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“ ‘ I TAKE THE EXPRESS NOW. THE OTHER BOY QUIT,’ 
SAID HARRY, COMING FORWARD.” 


The Young 
^press ;^ent 

BY 

FRANK E. p:LLOGG 

Author of “ The ^o^ DucIC'ffwters, ” ** The ^oy 
Fishermen, ’ ’ etc. 


KUuatratrb btf 

J. W. KENNEDY 



(BOSTON 

Sana lEatea $c ©ampattfl 

’PUBLISHERS 




UBRARY of CONGRESS 


Two Cooies Received 

may 17 1906 



Copyright^ igo6 

By Dana Estes & Company 

All rights reservea 



THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


COLONIAL PRESS 

Electrotyped and Printed by C. H . Simonds Co. 
Boston . U. S. A . 


Preface 


It may interest the young reader to know that 
most of the incidents related in this book actu- 
ally occurred. And that the hardy, rollicking, 
jolly band of express and railway employees 
were real flesh and blood. Just a few changes 
and alterations in their make-up. 

The Author. 





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Contents 


♦ 


CHAPTER 

I. 

The Baker Family 




PAGE 

I I 

II. 

Harry Baker Quits School 




29 

III.. 

Learning the Express Business 



39 

IV. 

A Railroad Boom 




50 

V. 

An Express Boom 




65 

VI. 

Transferring 




73 

VII. 

Luck and Trouble 




93 

VIII. 

Tom Purdy .... 




108 

IX. 

A “Fowl” Joke . 




1 16 

X. 

Tom Purdy and the “ Bad Man ” 



124 

XI. 

A Tussle with Tramps 




138 

XII. 

Chasing a Forger 




164 

XIII. 

Messenger Experience 




189 

XIV. 

Queer Express Packages . 




200 

XV. 

A Lively Scrimmage . 




212 

XVI. 

A Bold Outrage 




227 

XVII. 

An Old Relic 




251 

XVIII. 

The Christmas Rush . ' . 




268 

XIX. 

A Train Hold-up 




286 

XX. 

A Promotion 




316 





LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 


♦ 

PAGE 

“ ‘ I TAKE THE EXPRESS NOW. ThE OTHER BOY 

-QUIT,’ SAID Harry, coming forward” Frotitispiece i 
“ ‘ Hang on, son ; tail holt is a good one . 77 

“‘Four tollar und eighty cent. Vy, das is 

VORT more as DER SCHICKENS ! ”’ . . . 102 

“ Doubled backward until it seemed that his 

SPINE MUST BREAK, . . . HaRRY’S SENSES GREW 

numb” 154 

“ He caught the iron ladder on the side of a 

BOX CAR and scrambled NIMBLY TO THE TOP ” 1 87 

‘“We wanta our mon,’ he shouted” . . .217 
“ He . . . saw a man spring upon the platform 

OF THE nearest COACH ” 24I 

“‘Surrender, or we’ll shoot!’” .... 305 


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4 




The Young Express Agent 


CHAPTER I. 

THE BAKER FAMILY 

‘‘ Look out, Harry.” 

The boy addressed turned just in time to 
catch a snowball in the ribs that had been in- 
tended for his back. 

The damp sphere crumbled to pieces at the 
blow, leaving a round spot of snowy whiteness 
on his side. 

A merry roar of cheers and laughter followed 
the well-aimed shot, and the next instant Harry 
Baker and his companion had accepted the chal- 
lenge and were sending and receiving snowballs 
by the score. The air was filled with the soft, 
white missiles. 

“ Give it to them. Tent,” and Harry made a 
quick side jump, as a mimic cannon-ball grazed 
his shoulder. A moment later and one struck 


II 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


Tent Shafer on the side of the head, followed 
by much laughter and clapping of hands. He 
whirled around to see another band of smaller 
boys on the opposite side of the street. 

“ Here. ‘ Two on one, is nigger’s fun,’ ” he 
called out, indignantly, sending a snowball into 
the ranks of the new charging party. The orig- 
inal enemy manfully turned their batteries 
toward the band of small marauding bandits, 
and with their assistance the small rascals were 
soon scattered. 

Then the original battle began again. Two 
more schoolmates happening along took sides 
with Harry and Tent, and snowballs flew thick 
as bees in swarming time. Gradually the dis- 
tance between the opposing hosts lessened as the 
battle grew fiercer. A ball reaching its mark 
was a signal for triumphant laughter from the 
opposing army. 

More boys joined in the sport on either side, 
and it became a battle royal. Staid middle-aged 
business men paused to watch the snow fight, 
the grave steady eyes lighting up with the fires 
of youth as the balls flew thicker and faster. 
Closer crept the advancing squadrons. Then, 
suddenly, as if by mutual consent, there was a 


12 


THE BAKER FAMILY 


wild rush, and a rolling, tumbling, struggling 
mass of boys were down in the snow, washing 
faces, poking snow down the back of reluctant 
necks, and filling pockets until, tiring of the 
sport, every one sprang to his feet and began to 
shake the snow from his clothes, a group of 
white-robed phantoms. 

Our side beat,” called a chubby boy, turn- 
ing a headspring in the soft snow. 

‘‘ You beat nothing,” retorted Tent Shafer, 
tossing a bit of snow toward the boaster. 

“ That’s more fun than I’ve had in a month,” 
remarked a tall boy from the opposing side, 
digging a bit of rapidly melting snow from 
under his coat collar. 

“ Yes. It’s more fun than doing cube root,” 
said another, turning his pockets wrong side out, 
in the search for snow. 

You’re always complaining about your arith- 
metic. Why don’t you work and get your ex- 
amples?” said Jim Travers, eyeing him with a 
superior air. 

“ I do work,” was the indignant retort. 

Only at odd times, my son. You draw too 
many smoke-houses, and six-legged cats, and 
iron-jawed prize-fighters on your slate, when 

13 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


you ought to be doing your examples. Or else 
you are throwing sheep’s eyes or paper wads 
at your girl across the room,” and Jim caught 
the complaining youth by the shoulders and bent 
him backward over his knee, while the others 
laughed. 

“ Quit, you big monkey. I do study just as 
much as the rest of you, but I don’t understand 
it,” and he twisted away from his tormentor. 

Get Harry Baker to show you. He’s high 
man on arithmetic,” suggested another, aiming 
a snowball at a man half a block away. 

“ Better study it out for himself. Then he’ll 
know it for keeps,” said Harry, as a bevy of girls 
came along. 

“ Don’t you dare to throw snowballs at us,” 
cried one of the latter, as she caught a gleam of 
mischief in the boys’ eyes. 

Of course not, Minnie. I just want to see 
if I can hit that fence post to the right of you,” 
and a snowball whizzed past her head. 

“ Jim Travers, you just quit that, or I’ll tell 
the teacher.” 

Whizz, bang. More snowballs, followed by 
a chorus of girlish shrieks. 

‘‘ Tent Shafer, I’ll tell the — Ow,” and a soft 


4 


THE BAKER FAMILY 


missile struck the speaker on the back, cutting 
short the threat. 

“ There’s Harry Baker throw — Ouch. Oh, 
I think boys are horrid.” 

“ Run, girls,” called one of the keener-witted 
ones. There was a clutching of dresses, a hasty 
scampering of feet, and the “ horrid boys ” were 
alone. 

Numberless happy, chattering, snowballing 
groups of boys and girls were scattered through 
the little town on their way home. For school 
was just out, and the warm, pleasant March 
afternoon caused them to linger. Add to that 
six inches of damp, freshly fallen snow, and one 
has an attraction that compels respect. 

“ Come on, boys. Let’s go home. I must get 
my wood in,” called Harry Baker, as the girls 
went out of range. 

‘‘ Wait till. I paste that old farmer,” said Jim 
Travers, indicating a man in a sleigh half a 
block off. 

“Pshaw! You can’t come within a block of 
him.” 

“ I’ll show you.” There was a violent con- 
tortion, a wild swinging of arms, and Jim heaved 
the snowball far aloft in a high curve. 

IS 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


He was an excellent thrower, and the boys 
were not astonished at the result. For the snow- 
ball swooped down and landed fairly on the 
farmer’s heavy fur cap. A start of wild surprise. 
Then he looked around and saw the group of 
boys. He shook his whip threateningly, and 
then thinking discretion was the better part of 
valor, whirled around, whipped up his team, and 
quickly got out of range, followed by an ecstasy 
of laughter. 

“ That’s the last shot. Come on,” and the 
group chatted along, firing a stray shot at a 
wandering cat or dog that chanced to be on the 
street or skulking through an alley. 

Presently two boys, about their own ages, 
passed them. Both were smoking cigarettes, 
hats perched jauntily on one side of the head, 
eyes roving boldly around, teeth stained and 
discolored with tobacco, and a generally hard, 
cunning look. In fact they bore the typical 
appearance of the bold, forward youth, who is 
prematurely aged in the smaller vices of men. 

“ Hello, Jasper,” called Jim Travers, ‘‘ have 
you quit school entirely ? ” 

Sure thing. My time’s too valuable to waste 
in school,” and the young fellow addressed 

i6 


THE BAKER FAMILY 


perched his hat a little farther on one side, and 
tried to look wise. 

‘‘ What are you doing now ? '' asked young 
Travers. 

Oh, working for ‘ Street & Walker,' but I’m 
thinking of leaving them and going with ‘ Doo- 
little & Setmore,’ ” and Jasper Hardy, the truant, 
who had a great contempt for boys that went to 
school regularly and tried to keep up with their 
classes, passed on, with an arrogant, superior 
air. 

“ I don’t believe he has been to school a week 
in the last two years,” remarked Tent Shafer, 
glancing back at the pair. 

“ He never studied when he did go,” said Jim 
Travers, ‘‘ just dragged along at the end of the 
class.” 

“ He won’t learn much good from Bill Rant- 
ing,” observed Harry. “ That boy has been a 
little tough ever since he could walk. I remem- 
ber hearing him swear when he wasn’t more than 
five.” 

“ He doesn’t want to learn anything good. 
He wants folks to think he is tough, and a bad 
man,” replied Tent. I don’t see what his folks 


17 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


can be thinking of. He’ll land in the calaboose, 
first thing he knows.” 

But Jasper Hardy and his companion were 
caring little what their schoolmates thought of 
them. They were entirely satisfied with them- 
selves, and loafed along, blowing clouds of smoke 
from their lips, with a conscious air of superior- 
ity. 

“ These last cigarettes are jim dandies. Bill. 
Where did you get them?” said Jasper, light- 
ing a fresh “ coffin nail.” 

“ Up at ‘ hole-in-the-wall.’ Pete just got 
them in, last week.” 

‘•Will they let you have beer, there?” asked 
Jasper, anxiously. 

“ Sure. Have anything I want,” and Master 
Ranting threw his chest out a couple of inches, 
and exhaled a cloud of smoke from his lungs. 

“ I tried to get a glass of beer there about a 
month ago, and Pete wouldn’t let me have it,” 
said Jasper, with an injured look. 

“That’s because he wasn’t sure of you. If 
you travel with me awhile you can get anything 
you want there,” replied young Ranting, with a 
patronizing air. 


i8 


THE BAKER FAMILY 


‘‘ Oh, ril get there, after awhile,'’ responded 
Jasper, hopefully. 

As they passed a couple of middle-aged well- 
dressed men, one of the latter remarked: 

“ Isn’t that a nice spectacle? If they were my 
boys I’d give them a good spanking.” 

“ Do them good, probably,” was the rejoinder; 
“ they neither work nor go to school, just loaf 
around the streets, and smoke and swear.” 

“ That’s the kind of material that fills our 
penitentiaries ; too bad,” remarked the first 
speaker. 

Well, Bill. So long. See you this eve, at 
the corner,” and Jasper Hardy turned in at his 
own gate. 

“ Jasper, you come and' get a pail of water,” 
came a voice from the kitchen. 

“ Aw, get it yourself. I ain’t got time,” and 
Jasper picked up a well-thumbed ten-cent novel, 
entitled Bloody Bob, the Boy Burglar,” and 
was soon buried in its startling pages. 

Half an hour later came the request: 

“ Jasper, come and bring in some wood. I 
declare, you’re the laziest boy I ever saw. Your 
father’s got to get after you, young man. You 
won’t work, go to school, or anything else, ex- 

19 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


cept smoke them horrid, stinking little cigarettes, 
and loaf around the streets/' 

What’s the matter now ? ” asked a man’s 
voice. 

'' Oh, I can’t get this boy to do a thing. He 
won’t bring in water, wood, or do anything,” 
was the querulous reply. 

“ Jasper, you come and bring in the wood,” 
said his father, sternly. 

The former threw down his novel with a snarl. 

‘‘ A fellow can’t take any comfort in this house 
without somebody yelling at him to do some- 
thing,” and he slammed out to the wood-shed, 
banging the door after him. 

“ You ought to get him a job somewhere, if 
he won’t go to school,” said Mrs. Hardy, who 
had the weary, hopeless air of a woman who dis- 
covers that she has not drawn a prize in the 
marriage lottery. 

“ I can’t get him a job,” was the surly^ re- 
sponse. “ Let him find a job. He had one, last 
year, at Manfred’s, but they claim he stole 
something, and Manfred fired him. He can’t 
expect me to go around hunting jobs for him, 
if he can’t hold them.” 

“ Well, you ought to do something with him. 


20 


THE BAKER EAMILY 


He’s begun to get in with that rowdy gang, 
lately,” and Mrs. Hardy went into the kitchen 
to prepare supper. 

“ Good night, boys. See you in the morning,” 
called Harry Baker, cheerily, as he left his mates, 
and went whistling up the walk to his modest 
little home. 

Got the wood in, Phil ? ” this to his brother 
about ten. 

“No, I broke my sled. Won’t you help me 
fix it, Harry?” asked Phil, looking up, hope- 
fully. 

“ Of course. And then we’ll haul the wood in 
with it. Is that a bargain ? ” 

“ Yes, sir. I’ll help you, if you’ll fix my sled,” 
and Phil’s eyes sparkled with joy. “ One of the 
runners is spreaded out,” he added. 

“‘Spreaded out,’ eh? Well, we’ll spread it 
in again,” said Harry, with cheery good nature. 
“ Let’s see what the matter is. Is that all ? I’ll 
fix that in two jerks of a lamb’s tail. Bring it 
to the wood-house.” 

In fifteen minutes Phil’s sled was repaired, 
and the wood and kindling carried in the 
kitchen. 


21 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


“ What we going to have for supper, 
mother?” and Harry put his arm around a 
matronly, pleasant-faced woman, who was stir- 
ring something on the stove. 

“ Guess ! ” and she looked up at her tall son, 
with a world of pride and affection. 

Give it up. Something good ? ” 

Pigs’ feet and sauerkraut,” laughed Mrs. 
Baker. 

‘‘ For the land sakes ! Are the girls and 
Jimmy home?” 

“ Yes. They are in the front room.” 

“ Girls, do you know what we’re going to 
have for supper ? ” cried Harry, bursting into 
the room, where Mary, Alice, and Jimmy were 
playing with dolls. 

“No. What is it?” and three eager faces 
looked up from the floor. 

“ You couldn’t guess in a week.” 

“ Liver and onions,” hazarded Mary. 

“ Spare legs and brown potatoes,” cried Alice. 
(Spare ribs was the idea.) 

“ Roast pork and apple sauce,” said Jimmy, 
hoping he was right. 

“ All wrong. Pigs’ feet and sauerkraut,” 
said Harry, with a laugh. 


22 


THE BAKER FAMILY 


0-o-o-h, good ! ” cried Mary, clapping her 
hands. 

“ Do we like them ? ’’ queried Alice, dubiously. 

“ Of course. We like anything that mother 
cooks. What’s the matter with Maria Louise? ” 
and Harry pointed to a doll, with its head some- 
what awry, that she was clutching. 

The head’s corned loose. Won’t you fix it, 
Harry? ” and Alice held up her baby. 

“ Yes. Get me the hammer and a couple of 
tenpenny nails,” and he gravely reached for her 
treasure. 

No, no. You will break it. It must be 
glued,” and she backed away from her big 
brother, with a look of alarm. 

Oh, you big tease. You wouldn’t use nails, 
and you know it,” laughed Mary, catching him 
around the waist. 

‘‘ All right. Glue goes, then,” and two 
minutes later Harry was on the floor, resetting 
and gluing the head of Maria Louise,” while 
a circle of admiring heads watched his every 
motion. 

There you are. Lay her on the stove to 
dry, and she’s good as new,” he announced. 

“ I won’t. She’ll burn up,” and Alice snatched 

23 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


her mended treasure and flew to the doll corner, 
while the older ones laughed. 

'‘Huh! You believe everything he says, but 
I don’t,” remarked Jimmy, with a superior air. 

"You don’t, eh? I’ll show you,” and Harry 
caught up the small boaster and rubbed his ribs 
until a laughing, screaming romp was in prog- 
ress. 

" There. That will teach you to take a joke,” 
and Harry flung himself into a chair, panting 
and breathless. 

" Hold on. ' King’s excuse,’ ” he cried, as 
Jimmy started for him again. And in obedience 
to those magic words, the children became quiet, 
and the jolly uproar ceased. 

" Aren’t you children making a good deal of 
noise in here ? ” and Mrs. Baker looked in from 
the kitchen. 

"Just a little spasm Jim had. Everything 
is quiet now,” answered Harry, demurely. 

" ni keep them quiet,” announced Phil, strid- 
ing into the room, and flinging his cap in a 
corner. 

" Phil Baker,” warned his mother, shaking 
her finger. 

" Oh, I forgot,” and Phil, somewhat sheep- 
24 


THE BAKER FAMILY 


ishly, picked up his cap and hung it where it 
belonged. 

“ Harry, read ' Grimm’s Fairy Tales ’ to us,” 
cried Mary, eagerly. 

“ All right. Bring Mr. Grimm to me. Maybe 
I can forget how hungry I am,” and presently, 
with four rapt, eager listeners, he was reading 
the beautiful fairy-tales for the hundredth time, 
perhaps. 

“ Come, Mary, and set the table.” 

“ Ah ! that sounds good,” and Harry’s eye 
lighted up, as he closed the book. 

You needn’t help, Alice. You’ll break some- 
thing,” called Mary, as she deftly began to ar- 
range the table. 

“No. You rock Maria Louise to sleep,” said 
Harry, gravely. And Alice, taking him literally, 
began to softly croon, “ Bye Baby, Bye O,” 
from her low rocking-chair. 

“ Now, children, turn your elbows in, *and 
your noses up, and look solemn,” remarked 
Harry, as he took the head of the table. 

“ Do we eat the toes? ” asked Jimmy, eyeing 
the carving with great interest. 

“ You do if you want to,” replied Harry, ab- 
sently^ as he skilfully severed the joints. 

25 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


Why, we can’t eat the toes. They’re too 
hard,” said Alice, who was somewhat lacking 
in humor. 

Then you wouldn’t want to, would you ? 
Have some turnip, Phil ? ” 

“ Yes. Everything. I’m hungry,” was the 
prompt reply. 

“ Queer thing to see you hungry. There. 
Guess I’m clear around the circle. Fall to, now, 
and don’t hurt yourselves,” and several sharp 
sets of teeth were soon sampling pigs’ feet and 
sauerkraut, with a will. 

“ Jasper Hardy and that Ranting boy passed 
us when we were coming from school, and both 
of them were smoking cigarettes. Acted as if 
they thought it smart,” said Mary, scornfully. 

“ Yes,. They passed us, too,” Harry replied. 
“ Jasper can’t move, lately, without Bill Ranting. 
He doesn’t pretend to go to school any more.” 

“ I don’t know what his folks can be thinking 
of; he is the only boy, too. I used to go to 
school with Ollie Ranting, and she was a good 
girl, but I guess she took her pigs to a poor 
market when she got Seth Ranting,” said Mrs. 
Baker, in a sympathizing tone. 

‘‘ Maybe she had pigs’ feet,” suggested Alice, 
26 


THE BAKER FAMILY 

with grave quaintness, that caused everybody 
to smile. 

Pigs’ feet seem to have a pretty good market 
here,” observed Harry, looking at the empty 
platter. 

“ Seth Ranting has drunk more or less, ever 
since I knew him,” Mrs. Baker went on. “ I 
know people shook their heads when Ollie mar*- 
ried him, and I guess his boy is coming on 
about the same way. Fm glad you don’t take 
to that kind of a life. Well, what is it, Jimmy? ” 

“ May Alice and me have some more jam?” 

“ You mean ^ Alice and I,’ ” corrected Harry. 

No, I don’t mean you, either. I mean me,” 
asserted Jimmy. 

“ All right. I forgot that you hadn’t started 
in on grammar yet,” smiled Harry. 

You mustn’t have but a little more, because 
it’s rich,” said Mrs. Baker, as she dished out the 
savory sauce. 

You little chaps mustn’t make yourselves 
sick, or you will have to swallow a lot of nasty 
medicine, and that wouldn’t be so nice,” warned 
Harry, as he pushed back from the table. 

Huh ! I could eat a whole barrel of it,” 
boasted Jimmy, with greedy eyes. 

27 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


“ Probably. But you wouldn’t want any more 
right away,” remarked Harry, dryly. 

“ Mary, can you and Alice wash the dishes? ” 
asked Mrs. Baker. 

“Yes, ma’am,” responded Mary, promptly; 
“ that is, if Alice ever gets through eating.” 

“ Harry, will you help me with my arith- 
metic ? ” queried Phil. 

“ Of course. That’s what Pm for,” was the 
cheery reply. And soon after the table was 
cleared, Harry was busily engaged in untangling 
square root knots for Phil’s benefit. 


28 


CHAPTER II. 


HARRY BAKER QUITS SCHOOL 

‘‘ Harry, I would like to have a talk with 
you, before you go to bed.” Mrs. Baker’s usu- 
ally pleasant, jolly face wore a troubled, care- 
worn look as she spoke, and the lines on her 
brow deepened. 

The younger children had yawned away to 
their little bedrooms some time before, and 
Harry was buried in his old favorite, “ Ivanhoe.” 

“ Certainly, mother,” and the boy closed his 
book, and looked across the little table at his 
mother, who was patiently darning a ragged- 
looking hole in the knee of one of Jimmy’s 
stockings. 

I should have talked with you before, but 1 
have been dreading it. I suppose you know we 
are very poor.” 

“ Yes. The boys don’t forget to tell me that 
whenever any of them get mad at me about 
29 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


something/' and Harry's eyes wrinkled in a 
smile. 

Mrs. Baker blushed painfully. “ Well, we are 
poorer than you think. All we have to live on 
is our pension. And you know the year before 
your father died he had to borrow three hundred 
dollars. He couldn't get it without placing a 
mortgage on the house. The interest on that 
is eighteen dollars a year, which we must pay 
without fail. Then the children are growing 
every day, and their clothes cost more, and they 
eat more, and we have to spend more for school- 
books. So, take it all around, I don't see how 
we are going to make both ends meet much 
longer, on our present income,' ' and Mrs. Baker 
sighed wearily. 

“ Why didn't you tell me this before? " asked 
the boy, reproachfully. 

“ Oh, I didn’t want to worry you before your 
time. Goodness knows, you will get enough of 
it.” 

‘‘ Well, there is only one thing to do. I must 
quit school and go to work,” said Harry, ener- 
getically. 

‘‘ I don't like to have you drop school, but I 
don’t know what we will do unless some of us 
30 


HARRY BAKER QUITS SCHOOL 

earns something, pretty soon. I’ve puzzled my 
brains trying to figure out some way that I could 
make some money, but I haven’t been able to. 
It’s no disgrace to be poor, but it’s very incon- 
venient,” and Mrs. Baker sighed again. 

“ Never mind, mother. When I’m a man. I’ll 
see that you wear silks and diamonds,” said 
Harry, kissing her affectionately. 

Oh, no. I don’t ask that,” laughed his 
mother, just plain clothes and enough to eat.” 

‘H’ll begin to look for a job right away, and 
when I find one I’ll quit school and take it,” 
Harry declared, in a determined way. 

Oh, I think you had better finish the term,” 
objected his mother. 

“ That wouldn’t benefit me much more, so I 
don’t care whether I do or not. I would like to 
finish some work I have on hand, particularly in 
algebra, but that will only take until about the 
first of May. Then I will get to work. Is that 
all right?” 

“ Yes. And I thank the Father every day 
that I have such a boy,” and Mrs. Baker kissed 
him good night with tears in her eyes. 

Before he went to sleep that night Harry 
pondered deeply upon what his mother had told 

31 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


him. He told himself that he must go to work 
and help to lighten her burden of worry. But 
what to do, that was the question. There were 
few opportunities in the little sleepy town of 
Bluffton, where he lived. He might get a junior 
clerkship in one of the stores at a bare pittance. 
Then if he was honest and faithful and worked 
unusually hard iii the long years to come, his 
salary might be raised gradually until he received 
as much as eight or ten dollars a week. Not a 
very enticing prospect. 

Harry was but a sample of tens of thousands 
of American boys. Born of respectable and hon- 
est, but poor parents, after a common school 
education, they are turned adrift, free-lances be- 
fore the world, to cut and carve, according to 
their abilities, opportunities, ambitions, or what- 
ever it may be called, with no capital but health 
and brains. 

Not an inviting prospect at first glance. But 
it is history that the giants of the race have 
come from tJmt class of boys, and will continue 
to come from them. The hardy atmosphere is 
conducive to their growth. However, don’t 
think that they will all be giants. It depends 
entirely upon the boy and his ambition. But any 
32 


HARRY BAKER QUITS SCHOOL 

one of them may become a giant in some partic- 
ular walk of life, if he tries. Remember that, 
boys. 

Harry’s father, Tom Baker, was one that did 
not become a giant. At least, in the eyes of the 
world. 

He had barely become of age when the Civil 
War broke out. The President issued a call for 
volunteers, and the country was at fever heat. 
A meeting was called at the little schoolhouse, 
and young and old flocked there. The air was 
full of war talk. The books were made ready, 
and then came the call for volunteers. There 
was a momentary hush, but not a man stirred. 
Then Tom Baker walked down the aisle, and 
writing his name upon the book of fate, said 
fearlessly : 

I’ll fight for the old flag.” 

A cheer went up, and men crowded forward 
by scores to put down their names. The com- 
pany was quickly made up, and marched away 
to the scene of conflict. The world knows the 
rest. Many of that gallant little band never saw 
friends or home again, and their bones bleach 
to-day upon southern battle-fields. 

But Tom Baker went through it all, and at 
33 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


the close of the struggle was honorably mus- 
tered out, and returned home to take up the 
duties of a private citizen and support his 
family. However, he did not get ahead much. 
He was but a sample of thousands of those 
soldier boys. As a business man, he was a fail- 
ure. As a soldier, he had been the bravest of 
the brave; dashing, daring, and brilliant. He 
was the hero of a hundred battles and skir- 
mishes, and he loved to tell about it. In fact he 
enjoyed the recital of those terrible events much 
better than he did the prosy details of business. 
He had been through the “ bloody angle at 
Spottsylvania, and he would neglect business any 
time to live over again the carnage of that awful 
day, whenever he could get a sympathetic 
listener. 

But now that the country was saved the people 
had no further use for him as a soldier, and as 
he failed to accumulate property, he was voted 
thriftless and lazy. 

Perhaps the charge was true. But the country 
should remember that those civilian soldier boys 
were taken when just in the first flush of man- 
hood, with characters forming and loins girding 
for the peaceful battles of business, and without 
34 


HARRY BAKER QUITS SCHOOL 


a moment’s warning hurled into the red jaws 
of the mightiest, bloodiest war the world has 
ever seen. Broiled beneath a southern sun; 
worn by long exhausting marches; camping in 
fever-stricken swamps; braving the pitiless hail 
of bullets; and then when the end came after 
four long, weary years, and the country needed 
them no longer as soldiers, they were flung back 
to the arts of peace, and expected to take up the 
routine of life-work with the same zest they had 
felt when they dropped it. 

Many of them did. Others did not. Tom 
Baker was of the latter class. The village people 
said he was a lazy good-for-nothing. He dab- 
bled a little in real estate, and the government 
gave him a small pension. Of course he was 
always hard pressed for money, and one day he 
gave a mortgage of three hundred dollars on the 
little home. That was all the legacy he left a 
wife and five children, barring her pension. 

The couple of ounces of Confederate lead that 
he carried in his person finally wore him out, 
and he died. On every Decoration Day the peo- 
ple strewed flowers over his grave, but that did 
not help his family to keep the pot boiling. 

Harry went to school with a thoughtful air 
35 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


next day. Not that he felt the least bit depressed. 
While he liked to go to school, he was eager to 
get to earning money, now that he knew their 
circumstances. The idea of life was beginning 
to unfold to him, and he wondered what kind 
of work he would like to do. He knew there was 
small choice in the little town, but felt confident 
that he could find something to do, so he felt 
hopeful and content. 

About a week later, when he was going to 
school one morning, Jim Travers overtook him, 
and said: 

“ Did you hear about Jasper Hardy last 
night?’’ 

“No. What is it?” and he looked up in- 
quiringly. 

“ They carried him home, dead drunk.” 

“Drunk!” cried Harry in astonishment. 
“ Where could he get liquor ? ” 

“ At Pete Cleary’s, I suppose. He has been 
loafing with Bill Ranting lately, and Bill spends 
about half of his time there, so I suppose that’s 
where he got it.” 

Harry shook his head. “ Too bad. He’ll prob- 
ably go to the bad fast enough now.” 

“ I don’t know what ails the fellow. He seems 
36 


HARRY BAKER QUITS SCHOOL 

to yearn for that kind of a life,” said Jim in 
disgust. 

‘ It looks that way. He was always hunting 
up the toughest boys at school,” responded 
Harry, thoughtfully. 

He hasn’t had a very good example set him. 
Fve seen his father full half a dozen times,” said 
Jim. 

“ So have I. And you can always smell liquor 
on his breath.” 

I’ll bet you Jasper will be proud of this 
scrape. You see if he isn’t,” nodded Jim. 

“ I don’t doubt it. He’s just about silly 
enough.” 

Jim was right. When Jasper Hardy came 
down-town next day, his swagger was a little 
more pronounced, and he seemed to have grown 
at least two inches in his own estimation. Of 
course in a small town like that everybody had 
heard of his escapade. 

Men glanced at him in sorrow and disgust. 
Jasper thought it was awe and respect. Of 
course he hunted up his new chum, Bill Ranting, 
and told him all about what a time he had get- 
ting sober; and how the old woman cried and 
took on, and the old man swore; and what a 
37 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


head he had on him next morning; how it felt 
big as a bushel basket; and what bully fun it 
was, etc. Ah, if he could only have looked 
ahead ! 

The first of May arrived, and true to his prom- 
ise, Harry carried his books home and said 
good-by to school life. Henceforth he was to be 
one of the world’s workers, receiving and giving 
hard knocks with the rest of them. 


38 


CHAPTER III. 


LEARNING THE EXPRESS BUSINESS 

Have you any work for me to do, Mr. Man- 
fred?” 

James Manfred, proprietor of the largest gen- 
eral store, looked up from his desk. 

“ Pm afraid not, just now, Harry. But I 
thought you were going to school ? ” and the 
merchant smiled over his glasses at his ques- 
tioner, for he liked the frank, manly young fel- 
low. 

‘‘ I quit school this morning. I must go to 
work and earn some money to help mother,” 
Harry replied with honest frankness. 

That’s the way I like to hear a boy talk. 
Sorry I haven’t something for you to do, but 
every place is filled, and besides, trade is very 
quiet now,” and Mr. Manfred looked thought- 
fully around the store. 

Then I must try somewhere else,” and a dis- 
39 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


appointed look came over the boy’s face as he 
started to go. 

“ Hope you’ll find something. If I have a 
vacancy, I’ll let you know,” called the merchant 
with genuine sympathy. 

All right, sir. Thank you,” and Harry 
passed out. 

He visited every store in the little town that 
forenoon, only to have his inquiry received with 
a shake of the head. No more help was wanted 
at present by any of them. 

Tired and somewhat discouraged, he returned 
home at noon. 

His face told plainer than words of his ill-suc- 
cess. 

^‘Nothing yet, eh?” smiled his mother, 
kindly, who was getting the noonday meal ready 
for the children when they should return from 
school. 

Harry shook his head. “ No, but I have a 
promise when there is a vacancy.” 

“ Oh, well, you’ll find something after awhile. 
And by the way, I want you to take this pack- 
age down to the express office after dinner. It’s 
that skirt of Alice’s I’m sending to Cousin Letty. 
She said ^she would pay the charges.” 

40 


LEARNING THE BUSINESS 


“ All right, mother. Hello ! Here come the 
kidlets.” And as he spoke there was a scamper- 
ing of feet, a shout, a banging of doors, and 
Mary, Alice, Phil, and Jimmy were in the room, 
bright-eyed, rosy-cheeked, and brimming with 
health and spirits. 

‘‘ Dinner ready, mother ? '' Oh, but Pm 
hungry.’’ “ Harry, sharpen my pencil.” 
“ Mother, I lost a button off my waist,” and so 
on. 

“ Have patience, children, dinner will be ready 
in a minute, and then I’ll attend to you,” and 
Mrs. Baker flitted here and there, while the 
chattering, laughing, romping band waited with 
what patience they could for the noonday 
meal. 

“ Dinner is ready, children,” and two minutes 
later, sharp, youthful appetites were making great 
inroads upon the food. And when their hunger 
was satisfied, away to school for a play spell 
before the bell rang. 

An hour later, Harry stood in the little ex- 
press office. 

“ Well, Harry, what can I do for you to-day ? ” 
and the express agent, John Harbin, looked up 
from his desk. 

41 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


'' Mother wants to send this package. They 
will pay the charges at the other end.” 

'‘All right, my boy.” And Mr. Harbin took 
the small package, noted its lightness, and re- 
marking, “ That will go for a quarter, all 
right,” drew a way-bill from a drawer in his 
desk. 

Harry had but few occasions to visit the ex- 
press office, and he always felt a sort of awe 
when there. Somehow the name " express ” was 
associated with money, jewelry, and other valua- 
bles, and he could not rid himself of the idea of 
being in the presence of some occult or hidden 
power. 

However, there was nothing very awe-inspir- 
ing in the appearance of that office. Simply a 
few packages and boxes of " on hand ” stuff 
waiting for claimants — expressmen call it “ old 
horse ” — a pair of scales, balls of twine, wrap- 
ping-paper, etc. 

It was but one of the thousands of offices in 
the various small towns and villages over the 
country. The great express companies must 
have an office in every town visited by a railroad, 
no matter how small or insignificant the place. 
Of course, in the little towns the business was 


42 


LEARNING THE BUSINESS 


small and the pay according. Some firm, or 
man in business, was found’ who would provide 
office room and take care of the business on a 
commission. So if little express business was 
done, the company would be out but little. 

In the present instance, the agent, John Har- 
bin, had a small insurance and real estate busi- 
ness, and took the express agency to eke out his 
small income. He must have an office anyhow, 
so what little he made out of the express busi- 
ness was clear gain. 

‘‘ You don’t know where I could find a good 
reliable boy, Harry ? ” 

The question almost took his breath away. His 
eyes sparkled as he said: 

“ I am looking for work, but I don’t know 
whether you would call me ‘ reliable ’ or not,” 
and he laughed. 

Mr. Harbin opened his eyes. “ Why, I thought 
you went to school.” 

I have been going, but I quit this morning 
to go to work at something, if I can find any- 
thing to do. Where is Job Dorsey ? ” 

He quit, and went out in the country to 
work on a farm, this morning. Leaves me rather 
short-handed. I want a boy, but I wasn’t look- 
43 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


ing for one as big as you are; How old are 
you?’’ 

Eighteen.” 

“ I suppose it would hardly pay you to bother 
with this. The trouble is, you see, the office 
doesn’t earn enough to pay much of anything. 
There isn’t business here to do it.” 

“How much did you pay Job?” 

“Two dollars a week, and then he made more 
out of it than I did.” 

“ What is there to do ? ” 

“ Oh, take the packages to the train and de- 
liver them to the messenger, bring back anything 
he has for us, deliver the goods and collect the 
charges. I have attended to the office, work, as 
Job wasn’t very bright, as you know, and he 
doesn’t take to such things,” and Mr. Harbin 
smiled. 

“ Well, I want something to do, and if you 
want me to. I’ll try it,” said Harry, after a mo- 
ment’s thought. 

“ Certainly. Glad to get you. Only sorry 
that I can’t pay you more,” said Mr. Harbin, 
heartily. 

“ When do you want me to begin? ” 

“To-day; right now.” 

44 


LEARNING THE BUSINESS 

All right, ril go home and tell mother, and 
come right back,’’ and Harry hurried out. 

“ Mother, I’ve found a job,” he cried, breath- 
lessly, as he rushed into the house. 

“Is that so? What is it?” and Mrs. Baker 
looked up from her sewing, with a smile. 

“ I’m going to help Mr. Harbin in the express 
office; take Job Dorsey’s place; he has gone 
out in the country to work on a farm.” 

“ What does he pay you ? ” 

“ Two dollars a week. That isn’t much, but 
it’ll help some,” said Harry, cheerfully. 

“ Yes, it is better to work for low wages than 
remain idle. You have heard the old saying, 
' Satan finds work for idle hands to do.’ Per- 
haps you can find something better after awhile.” 

“ I’ll keep my eyes open for that. Now I must 
go back and find out what there is to do,” and, 
kissing his mother, he hurried away joyfully. 

“ Well, you are back promptly,” and Mr. Har- 
bin looked up with a pleased smile as Harry re- 
entered the office. 

“ Yes, sir, I wish to find out what my duties 
are,” was the reply, with an expectant air. 

“ Well, there are only two trains a day that 
carry express. One comes through in the night, 
45 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


and one in the afternoon. ^ On the night train, 
the messenger puts any express he may have for 
us in the baggage-room, and you go down in 
the morning and check it over, and bring it to the 
office. Anything for the merchants you deliver 
at once, and collect afterwards. The afternoon 
train you meet and take off any express the mes- 
senger gives you. We use my old horse and 
wagon to deliver with.’’ 

‘‘ Have you any objections to my learning the 
office work?” asked Harry, respectfully. 

‘‘ No sir-e-e. Glad to have you learn it, and 
do it, if you want to. Job didn’t know anything 
about books, and didn’t want to, so I got in the 
habit of doing it myself. I can show you in a 
few minutes.” He reached under the short coun- 
ter and took out a book. 

“ This is the ‘ in-trip book.’ Everything that 
comes in we copy on this book.” He brought 
out another book about the same size. This 
is the ‘ out-trip book.’ Everything that we send 
out we copy on this book.” He picked up an- 
other thin book. ‘‘ This is our abstract book. 
In it we copy all the way-bills we send out from 
this office. And finally, this is the statement 
book. Once a month we make a statement of 
46 


LEARNING THE BUSINESS 

all the business, both ‘ in ' and ' out,' done at this 
office, deduct our commission, and send the com- 
pany the balance." 

“ What is this big envelope for ? " asked 
Harry. 

‘‘ That is a C. O. D. envelope. It means ‘ Col- 
lect on delivery.' When a merchant or anybody 
sends goods to anybody by express that they 
want the cash for when they are delivered, they 
put the bill for the goods in this envelope, and 
send it along with the regular way-bills. Then 
the agent collects for the goods as well as the 
express charges, and sends it back." 

‘‘ Here’s another kind. What is this ? " and 
Harry picked up another large manila envel- 
ope. 

That is a ‘ P. O. R.' It means ‘ Pay on re- 
turn.' When anybody wants the express com- 
pany to collect an account for them in some dis- 
tant town, he gives the bill to the agent, and he 
puts it in this envelope, without sealing. It is 
then given to the messenger with a regular way- 
bill, the same as any package, and sent to its 
destination. The agent there collects the account 
if he can, puts the money in the same envelope, 
seals it, and sends it back." 

47 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


“ I see. ril soon get on to these things/^ said 
Harry, confidently. 

“ Of course you will. Any bright boy can 
pick it up in a week. There are other details that 
will come up gradually, but it’s nothing to learn. 
The one thing you must remember in this busi- 
ness is to have your wits about you constantly, 
and make no mistakes. An error or two fastens 
on to an office very quickly, and it gets known 
over the road as a place where they are liable 
to make mistakes. Pretty soon, the route agent 
shows up, and wants to know the cause of it.” 

“ Who is the route agent? ” Harry asked. 

“ He is our boss. The man who has charge 
of all the offices in a certain territory. He hires 
and discharges the agents; oversees and checks 
up the offices; furnishes the supplies, etc. He 
reports to the superintendent, and keeps him in 
touch with everything. In fact, he is the man 
you want to stand well with,” and Mr. Harbin 
smiled. 

All right, sir. I’ll try and make as few mis- 
takes as possible,” and Harry began at once to 
pore over the books, locate the supplies, and ask 
their uses. 

His interest and enthusiasm pleased Mr. Har- 
48 


LEARNING THE BUSINESS 


bin greatly, and he took pains to explain every- 
thing thoroughly. 

Harry was on the threshold of a new world 
that seemed to be full of mystery and interest 
to his inexperienced eyes. 

Little he dreamed that he was entering upon 
his life-work, or of the changes he would soon 
see in the quiet little village, and the thrilling 
events he would take part in. 


49 


CHAPTER IV. 


A RAILROAD BOOM 

Harry felt like a business man, when he drove 
the old horse and wagon down to meet the train 
that afternoon. He was a little bit nervous, to 
tell the truth, like a cat in a strange garret. 
However, he consoled himself with the thought 
that he would soon know the ropes. 

The short passenger train dashed into the 
depot and stopped, and Harry walked up to the 
car marked “ express.” 

The side door opened, and a young man in 
a blue denim working-suit appeared, and looked 
around inquiringly. 

Where’s that freckle-faced, spider-legged 
kid that takes this express ? ” he called out to 
Harry. 

‘‘ I take the express now. The other boy quit,” 
said Harry, coming forward. 

“You? A long-legged, lantern- jawed critter 
5 ^ 


A RAILROAD BOOM 


like you, take the express? Not much. You’re 
trying to hold up the company,” and the mes- 
senger glared at him solemnly. 

“ That’s right. I take it now,” replied Harry, 
with a laugh of embarrassment, for he was not 
used to the ways of messengers yet. 

“ Where is Harbin ? He didn’t say anything 
about a chahge,” and the messenger frowned. 
“ Here he comes now,” as Mr. Harbin came 
hurrying forward. “ How is it? Is this boy all 
right?” 

“ Yes, sir, he takes charge of the express after 
this, and he’s all right,” and the agent slapped 
Harry familiarly on the shoulder. “ I meant to 
have been here sooner. This is Harry Baker, 
the new boy; and Harry, this is Mr. Haverly,” 
and Mr. Harbin bustled about and helped with 
the work. 

That kid will break in two some windy day, 
he’s so long and slim. Better have him band- 
aged,” and with this cheerful .remark, the mes- 
senger shut the door. 

“ He is a great joker, but you’ll like him after 
you get used to him,” said Mr. Harbin as they 
drove to the office. 

There Harry was shown the process of check- 

51 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


ing, stamping, and copying, so his express life 
had fairly begun. He entered into the work 
with spirit and enthusiasm, and in a fortnight 
had everything at his fingers’ ends that Mr. Har- 
bin could tell him. He could make statements, 
abstracts, seal money packages, write way-bills, 
in fact attend to all of the many details of ex- 
press work, so that before a month had passed 
Mr. Harbin felt safe in entrusting the whole 
business to him. 

About a month after he entered the office, a 
great change took place in railroad matters there. 
A great trunk line gained control of the small 
road that passed through Bluffton, and it was 
made part of a great system. The' line was ex- 
tended far to the west to connect with other 
lines, regraded and double-tracked. Then came 
rumors of a division. Doubtless most of our 
young readers know what a railroad “ division ” 
is. It is the point where the crews and locomo- 
tives end their runs,” or day’s work. You 
know that the train-crews, and even the big 
puffing locomotives, must rest after working a 
certain number of hours, and the places where 
they rest are called “ divisions.” There fresh 
engines and crews are waiting to relieve them 
52 


A RAILROAD BOOM 

and whirl the trains onward across the country 
to another division point, where other fresh men 
and engines are ready to take their posts. These 
division points are generally from ninety to 150 
miles apart. Of course, you will see at once 
that a division point means something to a 
small town. There must be a “ roundhouse ” 
for the locomotives, machine-shops, eating- 
houses, hotels, boarding-houses, etc. The rail- 
road company must have large yards contain- 
ing many tracks to hold the great number of 
freight-cars necessary in railroading. All these 
things require many people to manage and run 
properly, so the advent of a division is a boom 
for a small town, bringing more population and 
a rise in value of the property, and they are all 
anxious to get it. In the present instance other 
near-by towns were reaching for the plum, with 
delegations, offers of money, land, etc., and fqially 
sleepy little Bluffton partially awok^ from its nap 
and made an effort to get it. There was much 
talking, wire-pulling, and heartburnings for a 
time, but, owing to its favorable location, the 
plum was finally secured. 

Then the little town awoke to life. The frogs 
that for years had croaked so peacefully in the 
S 3 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


suburbs, hurriedly packed their grips and left 
for quieter spots, while the mud-turtles silently 
and sadly vanished. 

And well they might, for all was bustle and 
life. Hotels, depots, and buildings were going 
up on every hand. The railroad company bought 
a large tract of land, and put a large railroad 
yard there, with scores of tracks. Then all was 
noise and hurry. Day and night the clanging 
and pufhng of switch-engines smote the quiet air ; 
the long, slow freight-trains wound in and out, 
and the lightning dash of the limited-mail dis- 
turbed the country peace. 

All of this had its effect upon Mr. Harbin and 
Harry. 

Business boomed. Real estate changed hands 
rapidly, and the town filled up with strangers, 
who had come to work on the railroad or take 
part in the sudden prosperity. 

Mr. Harbin suddenly found his hands full of 
business, almost more than he could attend to. 
Conveying real estate, making deeds and mort- 
gages, writing insurance, etc., occupied all of his 
time, so naturally the express business was left 
entirely to Harry. 

That business boomed also, as the town grew. 

54 


A RAILROAD BOOM 


Many more trains were put on, and more ex- 
press packages came and went. 

One day, after the division was established, 
Mr. Harbin said : 

“ Harry, don’t you want to take this agency ? 
I have more other business than I can attend to. 
You do all of the work anyhow, and you might 
as well have it in your name, and make what you 
can out of it.” 

Harry’s eyes sparkled. “ Yes, sir, if the com- 
pany will appoint me.” 

“ They’ll appoint you. I talked it over with 
Cummings when he was out last week. He likes 
you, and is willing to make you agent, although 
he said you were pretty young. That was his 
only objection, but he will overlook it in your 
case. Some of the business men gave you a 
good send-off, and that pleased him, too. So if 
you want it, we’ll have the agency transferred 
soon as he can get time to come out.” 

“ All right, sir, and thank you.” 

You don’t owe me any thanks; you have 
earned it. It isn’t a very big thing yet, but it’s 
bigger than it was,” responded Mr. Harbin, 
kindly. 

How much it grows in the future will de- 
55 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


pend, I suppose, on the growth of the town,” 
said Harry. 

I suppose so. No telling now how large a 
city this will make,” replied Mr. Harbin as he 
turned to his work. 

The upshot of the matter was that Harry was 
appointed express agent shortly after. He had 
become well acquainted with all of the trainmen 
and depot employees, and was a favorite with 
most of them. They were a jolly set of fellows, 
and when they heard of his appointment, rallied 
and joked him a good deal upon his valuable pro- 
motion. 

And now we come to another epoch in his 
career. 

He went down to the depot as usual one warm, 
pleasant afternoon to meet the Chicago local 
passenger. Promptly on time the train rolled 
into the depot, and Phil Haverly opened the side 
door. 

“ What you got, Harry ? Get a move on you 
and watch my car a minute till I run in and get 
a sandwich. Hold on; don't put in your freight 
till I get mine out. Haven’t I told you that 
forty times? You seem to be getting dumber 
instead of wiser,” and Haverly sputtered about, 
56 


A RAILROAD BOOM 


and changed the freight with a great show of 
impatience. 

But Harry was getting used to messenger 
ways, and took his remarks for what they were 
worth. So he replied, “ It must be because I 
work with such a dumb set of fellows.” 

“ I guess so. Here is your money run. 
There’s a P. O. R. in the run, and a C. O. D. 
This package didn’t have any bill, so I made a 
mem.” (memorandum bill). “ The regular will 
probably be out to-night with the night men,” 
and Haverly dropped lightly to the platform and 
dashed into the lunch-room. 

While waiting, Harry amused himself by 
checking over his run just received; a short 
task, for it was only a few packages and two or 
three collections. Just then. Jack Dodd, the 
baggageman, came along, laboriously dragging 
a truck-load of trunks piled to the sky almost. 
It was the sort of load that baggagemen jok- 
ingly call, two looks high.” 

“ Hello, Jack. You caught it pretty heavy this 
time,” laughed Harry. 

Yes, some troupe with more baggage than 
brains. I get rid of it on the Flying Dutchman, 
at seven, thank goodness,” returned Jack, re- 
57 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


signedly, as he slowly pulled his load to the bag- 
gage-room. 

A slight jar as the fresh engine backed up to 
take the train; the air-hose snapped together, 
and the brakeman stepped out and shook his 
hand, “ All right.” 

Haverly came leisurely out of the lunch-room, 
munching a sandwich. 

“ They’re talking of putting a division here,” 
he remarked, as he glanced at the engine and 
noted that the engineer was still oiling up. 

Is that so ? How do you know ? Who told 
you?” and Harry’s eyes sparkled with an eager 
look. 

“ Why, the Old Man called me up-stairs yes- 
terday, and told me they were figuring on put- 
ting a division along here somewhere. They 
hadn’t just decided where, but he thought this 
was the best place.” 

‘‘ Goody. I hope they will,” and Harry’s eyes 
danced a jig. 

It won’t be any snap of a job, I can tell you, 
if they do put it here. They’ll put a big safe 
here, and have a night and day transfer for 
money and freight. You’ll have to meet every 


58 


A RAILROAD BOOM 


train in the twenty-four hours, and sleep between 
times,” said Haverly, discouragingly. 

“ I don’t care. I’ll do it, if it pays anything,” 
replied Harry, sturdily. 

‘‘ It ought to pay almost as much as a main- 
line run, if they do.” 

How much is that?” 

This run pays seventy-five dollars a month. 
But don’t get your hopes too high; they may 
not put it here. You’ll know in a few days. 
Good-by,” and he swung into the car and closed 
the sliding-door, just as the conductor shouted, 

A-1-1 a-b-o-a-r-d,” and the train moved slowly 
away. 

Phil Haverly put his head out of the door. 

“ Don’t say anything about it just yet, 
Harry.” The latter nodded, and the door closed 
again. 

He had been so engrossed with the idea of his 
possible good fortune that he had not observed 
Jasper Hardy, who, loafing near by, overheard 
every word. 

Jasper was still loafing. He couldn’t find any- 
thing that paid well enough to suit him, so he 
continued to let his father and mother support 
him in idleness. But now he pricked up his ears, 
59 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


and as he dodged around the depot, he muttered 
to himself: 

“ A division ; seventy-five dollars a month. 
Why couldn’t I get that job as well as Harry 
Baker? I’ll try it, anyhow. I’ll bet there’s a 
lot of money to be handled, too,” and his eyes 
gleamed with an avaricious light that boded ill 
for the express company’s cash if he ever got 
the handling of it. 

However, Harry, totally unconscious of a pos- 
sible rival, was already building air-castles and 
whistling at his work. The bare possibility of 
his being able to earn enough to comfortably 
support his mother and the flock of hungry 
youngsters at home, to say nothing of paying 
something on the mortgage, made him happy, 
and he whistled and sang in a light-hearted way. 

“What makes you so overjoyed?” inquired 
Jack Dodd, coming along after checking up. 

“ Oh, maybe because it’s such a nice day,” re- 
plied Harry, evasively, breaking off from “ Old 
Kentucky Home.” 

“ Didn’t know but you’d had a raise in pay.” 

“ Not unless I make it out of the business.” 

“ Doesn’t pay very much, does it? ” 

“No. Fifteen or twenty dollars a month,” 
6o 


A RAILROAD BOOM 

replied Harry, as he loaded his few bundles in the 
wagon. 

“ I wish you could make a decent salary out of 
it,” said Jack, with honest sympathy, for he and 
Harry had become warm friends. 

“ Thank you. Jack, I may after awhile,” and 
the kind-hearted baggageman strolled on to get 
his early supper. 

Harry was strongly inclined to tell his friend 
what he had heard about the division, but he 
remembered his promise to Phil Haverly, and 
forbore. 

Meanwhile, Jasper Hardy hurried up-town, 
revolving in his mind a plan to secure the agency 
for himself. He knew nothing about the busi- 
ness, but that didn’t bother him. He only 
thought of the salary and the large sums of 
money he supposed he would handle. Foolish 
fellow! He thought all he had to do was to 
get up a petition signed by some of the citizens 
and he would be appointed agent. He actually 
had the coolness to go to Mr. Manfred’s store 
and ask him to head the petition. 

“ The express company is going to put a divi- 
sion here,” he explained, and I want the job 
as agent.” 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


“You want to be express agent?” said Mr. 
Manfred, in amazement. “ What's the matter 
with Harry Baker ? ” 

“ I have just as good a right to it as he has,” 
replied Jasper, doggedly. 

“ I don’t think you have,” replied the mer- 
chant, quietly. “ Harry has done the work on a 
small salary, and if there is going to be a good 
thing I think he should have it, if he wants it. 
No use to talk,” he added, as Jasper opened his 
mouth to speak again ; “ you know I haven’t a 
very good opinion of you, so you are wasting 
your time on me. You are foolish to try to get 
it, for I am satisfied the company would not ap- 
point you.” 

Jasper saw that he meant what he said, and 
with a sullen look turned and left the store. 

However, he was not daunted by that rebuff. 
He made a thorough canvass of the town, and 
succeeded in finding a number of reputable citi- 
zens weak or foolish enough to sign his petition. 
For there can always be found people who will 
sign petitions under one pretext or another. 

Some of Jasper’s signers were people whom 
he owed small sums, and who saw a prospect 
of getting their pay if he were put in the way 
62 


A RAILROAD BOOM 


of making some money. Others signed it be- 
cause there was no pecuniary risk involved, and 
they did not care further. Still others signed 
because they lacked the firmness to say “ no.” 
So altogether Jasper secured quite a list of en- 
dorsers. 

Then the foolish fellow thought the agency 
was as good as secured, and chuckled with glee 
over his shrewd move, and wore his hat farther 
on one side of his head than ever. 

Jack Dodd heard of it, and hurried at once 
to Harry. 

Is it so, that they are going to put an ex- 
press division here?” 

“ They are talking of it, I believe. Why ? 
How did you hear of it ? ” 

‘‘ Why, that loafer Jasper Hardy is around 
with a petition to be appointed agent. He says 
there is going to be a division here.” 

Harry recoiled in astonishment. 

‘‘Jasper Hardy! How in the world did he 
hear of it? ” 

“ I don’t know. But that’s what he is doing. 
Better keep your eye out,” warned Jack. 

“ Thank you, I will.” 

The idea of that critter being express 

63 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


agent ! ” said Jack, contemptuously. Why, I 
wouldn’t trust him to run a dog fight.” 

Harry laughed. I’m not worrying much 
about his ousting me, but I don’t see how he 
heard of it.” 

Oh, that fellow is always snooping around. 
No telling what he hears. I hope the division 
does come here. It ought to make you a good 
job.” 

“ So do I,” returned Harry, heartily, as Jack 
strolled away to his work. 


64 


CHAPTER V. 


AN EXPRESS BOOM 

The messenger that day was Harley Burt. 
After the runs were exchanged, Harry asked: 

“ Have you heard anything about the di- 
vision? 

‘‘ Yes. They have decided to put it here.” 

Good,” and Harry could hardly keep from 
turning a handspring right there on the platform. 

“ Oh, it won’t be any snap, young fellow. 
You’ll earn your money, I can tell you.” 

“ I expect to earn it. Why shouldn’t I ? ” 

‘‘ Wait till it’s thirty below zero, four feet of 
snow, and trains all snowed in,” winked Burt, 
gravely. 

‘‘ Oh, you can’t scare me ; I’m young and 
tough,” laughed Harry. “ When are they going 
to make the change ? ” 

“ Cummings will be out to-night to see about 
it. They will build an office here at the depot,” 
and Burt closed his door as the train started. 

6S 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


Hear anything more about the division ? '' 
inquired Jack Dodd, coming up after the train 
had pulled out. 

“ Yes. They are going to put it here,’' and 
Harry’s face was wreathed in a generous assort- 
ment of smiles. 

I suppose you’ll wear a plug hat and eye- 
glasses,” said Jack, gravely. 

“ No, sir. I’ll wear blue overalls, and ‘ sich.’ ” 

That is, if Jasper doesn’t get it away from 
you,” laughed Jack. 

‘‘ That’s so. I had forgotten Jasper,” said 
Harry, as he wheeled his freight to the delivery 
wagon. 

“ Guess there isn’t much danger of that turnip 
getting it,” remarked Dodd, as he went back to 
work. 

Harry went home to his supper with a deep 
sense of relief. It was comforting to know that 
at last he was going to earn enough to support 
the family comfortably. 

Mother, the express division is coming here, 
and I am going to earn a lot of money,” and he 
gave Mrs. Baker a bear hug and tried to waltz 
her around the room. 

Harry, Harry, stop ! You will pull me over. 

66 


AN EXPRESS BOOM 


There; now tell me about it/’ and she looked 
at her son with a happy face. 

Why, the express company is going to put 
a division here, and that means more pay for the 
agent. See?” 

‘‘ What is a division ? ” inquired Phil. 

“Which kind? Long or short division?” 
and Harry looked down with mischievous eyes. 

“ Oh, quit your joking, and tell us,” said Mary, 
with mock petulance. 

“ All right. Gather round the frugal board. 
Turn your elbows in, and listen,” and Harry 
dropped into his chair at the table. 

“ Jimmy,” said his mother, reproachfully, 
“ you never washed your hands.” 

Jimmy took one look at his soiled fingers, and 
hurried to the kitchen sink. He was gone a 
very short time, but as he looked fairly well, no 
one made any comment when he again seated 
himself at the table. 

Then Harry explained to an eager, excited au- 
dience what a division was, as he understood 
it. 

“ An express division, as I understand it, chil- 
dren, is the place where a messenger gets out of 
his car and turns his run over to somebody else ; 

67 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


then he goes to bed — or ought to. You see,” 
he continued, looking around upon his small 
audience, “ a messenger starts out from the city 
with a car more or less full of packages, accord- 
ing to the time of the year. He gives out pack- 
ages along the line, to the towns they are marked 
to, and when he has travelled a certain number 
of miles, he is supposed to be tired and want 
some rest, so the express company fix upon 
some town on the line and have messengers there 
waiting to take his run when he gets in. That 
town is called a division. The tired man turns 
all of the express stuff over to the new fellow, 
and takes his receipt for it. Then he gets out 
of the car and goes where he pleases for a few 
hours. After awhile that train, or another one 
just like it, comes back, and that messenger is 
tired, so he turns the run over to this first fellow, 
and he takes it back to where he came from. 
See?” 

The children nodded, and Jimmy said : Will 
there just be two messengers?” 

“No, I understand there will be thirteen men 
running in here.” 

“ Oh, oh,” was chorused ; and Alice said : 
“Will they all stay at our house?” 

68 


AN EXPRESS BOOM 

“ I hope not,” replied Harry, with an amused 
laugh. 

Mrs. Baker breathed a sigh of relief. “ Now 
maybe we can pay something on that mortgage. 
It seems too good to be true. Do you know 
how much you will get ? ” 

“ The messengers thought it would pay about 
as much as a main-line run, that is, seventy-five 
dollars a month.” 

My, isn’t that an awful lot of money? ” asked 
Mary with wide-open eyes. 

Well, it’s quite a little bunch, but I guess 
I can carry it all right,” Harry replied, gravely. 

'‘We heard that Jasper Hardy was trying to 
get the office away from you,” said his mother, 
as she refilled his cup. 

“Yes, he got up a petition and sent it to the 
superintendent.” 

“ Johnny Michael and me heard Jasper tell Mr. 
Barlow that he was going to be agent. He said 
he had a letter from the superintendament, and 
the man said he was going to make Jasper agent,” 
put in Phil. 

Harry looked at his mother and laughed. 

“ The ‘ superintendament ’ seems to be pretty 
familiar with Jasper. However, we will know 
69 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


all about it to-morrow,” and he arose and looked 
at his watch, adding : I must get back to the 
office. I have some work to do this evening,” 
and giving the children a pinch and a hug, and 
kissing his mother, he hurried away. 

The next morning when he went down to check 
the night run left by the through messengers, he 
found Mr. Cummings at the depot. 

‘‘ Well, Harry, do you think you can run this 
thing all right? ” was the latter’s salutation. 

“ Yes, sir, I think I can, when I know what 
there is to do,” replied Harry, respectfully. 

“ Oh, there isn’t much more to learn than you 
already know. The worst feature will be, you 
must make every train in the twenty-four hours ; 
and sleep between times. We will put up a small 
one-room building here, and you can move your 
office in it. We will also send out a large safe 
to hold the money transfer! The messengers will 
run from Union Pacific Depot here, and from 
here to Chicago. Your pay will be seventy-five 
dollars a month. It’s pretty good pay, and I want 
you to attend to things in shipshape.” 

“ I’ll do my best, sir.” 

“ That’s all we can ask. * Now I must take 
measurements for the office. It won’t take but a 
70 


AN EXPRESS BOOM 


few days to build what we want. We want to 
start the run just as soon as we can.” 

During the day he arranged for lumber and 
carpenters, the latter to begin work at once. 
He and Harry were around town nearly all day, 
attending to various details. Once during the 
day they met Jasper Hardy. Harry spoke to him 
civilly, but received only a surly scowl for an 
answer. 

“ That young man doesn’t look as if he liked 
you very well,” remarked Mr. Cummings with a 
smile. 

“ No, that is the party that sent in the petition 
to Mr. Lambert, to be appointed agent here in 
my place.” 

Ah ! So that is the man,” and Mr. Cummings 
glanced back half-unconsciously. ‘‘ Well, I could 
tell him that we don’t get our agents by petition. 
And if we did, he wouldn’t stand any show. I 
don’t like the looks of his face. I’m a great be- 
liever in faces.” 

‘‘ I don’t wish to speak ill of anybody, but he 
hasn’t a very good reputation,” said Harry, 
quietly. 

I can well believe it. There would be too 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


much temptation in this business for a young 
man of his stripe.’’ 

Mr. Cummings returned to Chicago that night, 
leaving the overseeing of the work to Harry. 
He attended to it faithfully, and in a short time 
the office was ready. Then the supplies began to 
arrive. Large extra trucks were sent out, and 
then came the big safe. Various other necessary 
supplies followed, and in a short time everything 
was ready to make the change. 

Foreseeing that the transfer would require 
most of his attention and time, Harry made ar- 
rangements with a drayman to deliver the ex- 
press that came in for the merchants and business 
houses, he to do the collecting himself, later. 


72 


CHAPTER VI. 


TRANSFERRING 

The express transfer opened up a new life for 
Harry, and he entered upon it with the resolve 
to perform the duties to the very best of his 
ability. 

His seventy-five dollar salary looming up at 
the end of each month like a beacon-light, per- 
haps helped to make him more alert, if possible, 
and he determined to deserve it. 

His office was the terminus of thirteen mes- 
sengers. Some of them he knew, as having 
been on the original run, while the others were 
strangers, gathered from various runs and offices 
over the country. 

Mr. Cummings came out the first day to get 
him started and look over the new office. 

It was a new experience, getting up at one 
o’clock in the morning. Not a very pleasant one, 
either, for a robust, healthy youth accustomed 
73 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


to sleeping all night, but the moment the little 
alarm-clock began its atrocious rattlety-banging, 
Harry was awake, and sprang out of bed. 
Quickly dressing, he hurried to the station. 
Mr. Cummings had been called for the night 
trains, and was waiting for him to open the office. 
“How do you like night work?” he inquired, 
as Harry came along gaping and stretching. 

“ It seems a little bit queer to get up in the 
middle of the night, but I’ll soon get used to it,” 
said Harry, cheerfully, as he unlocked the office. 

“ I did night work for a number of years, in 
my younger days, but I couldn’t stand it now; 
I’m getting too old.” 

“Who is the messenger to-night?” asked 
Harry. 

“ I’m not sure, but I think Olmstead brings 
in the first run.” 

“ I’ll run over and see if she’s on time.” 

“ How’s Number 2 ? ” Harry asked a moment 
later of Harvey Roche, the night railroad oper- 
ator. 

“ On time,” and the young operator sprang 
from one key to another, answering and receiv- 
ing messages, with the swiftness of long prac- 
tice. 


74 


TRANSFERRING 


A few moments later, the train came puffing 
into the station. The side express door slid back 
and the messenger appeared in the opening. 

Where’s the agent? ” 

“ Here,” and Harry backed a truck up to the 
door. 

Save room on one end of the truck ; Fve got 
a pet for you,” said the messenger as he began 
to heave out packages. That’s all except a 
two-year-old bull,” he announced, a few moments 
later. 

** A two-year-old bull ! What, for goodness’ 
sake, will I do with him?” gasped Harry, in 
amazement. 

‘‘ Take him out of the car, feed, water, and 
curry him, and send him to St. Paul to-morrow 
morning,” grinned the messenger. 

“ Oh, is that all ? Well, heave him out,” re- 
torted Harry, who had recovered from his 
astonishment. 

Hardly. He weighs seven hundred with the 
crate. You’ll have to get some help.” 

As quite a large force of men were employed 
in the yards, Harry had little difficulty in round- 
ing up two or three, and brought them to the car. 
After much pushing, pulling, shoving, and grunt- 
75 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


ing, the crated animal was finally landed upon 
the truck. 

At that instant, either from fright or mischief, 
the animal began to surge about in its crate, some 
of the men let go instead of holding it firmly, 
and ere they could realize the situation and steady 
the crate, there was a wavering crash, and the 
crated animal tipped over on the truck. Then 
it began to struggle and bellow and tear around 
in its narrow prison, and before any one could 
prevent it, the crate rolled to the platform, there 
was another crash and a splintering of wood as 
the slats snapped under the strain, and the young 
bull leaped to its feet, free from the little wooden 
cell. 

It was all done in ten seconds. Upon regain- 
ing its liberty, the bull gazed about in a half- 
stupefied way for a moment. 

“ Don't let him get away ! ” called out Mr. 
Cummings, excitedly. 

In obedience to his words, some of the men 
laid hands upon the bull. That, of course, 
frightened it, and it backed away and started 
down the platform. With a wild desire to do 
something, he hardly knew what, to remedy the 
catastrophe, Harry sprang forward and seized 
76 



“ ‘ HANG ON, SON *, TAIL HOLT IS A GOOD ONE.’ ” 


• 




• 


t " 


s. 


k 


» 




* 

V 






Tl 





*■» 



TRANSFERRING 


the departing animal by the tail in the vain hope 
of stopping it. 

Of course his action frightened the bull more 
than ever, and it broke into a gallop down the 
platform, with Harry half-unconsciously cling- 
ing to its tail in the desperate hope that it might 
stop. For a moment the men were so dumb- 
founded at the accident, that they were speech- 
less, then the ludicrous side of the situation burst 
upon them. 

Olmstead, the messenger, leaned out of his car 
and shouted: 

“ Hang on, son ; tail holt is a good one.’’ 

“ Head him in on a side track, Harry,” yelled 
one of the helpers, 

'' Throw him on 7 north,” shouted another. 

Turn on the air-brake.” 

Pull the emergency.” 

These facetious remarks reached Harry’s ears, 
but he was in no condition to joke back. The 
twinkling lights from the coaches, the lanterns 
flitting here and there, mingled with the hurry- 
ing footsteps of the passengers, all served to in- 
crease the bull’s bewilderment, and it ran the 
faster. Passengers scurried here and there out 
of the way, and railroad men dodged between 
77 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


coaches and box cars. Just before the bull 
reached the end of the train and darted around 
the engine into the yards, Harry let go his hold 
and went plump into the arms of a drummer, 
who was staggering along under the weight of 
two heavy sample-cases. 

There could be but one result. Harry went 
one way, the astonished drummer another, while 
the sample-cases were carried to the platform by 
the force of gravity. 

Harry was soonest upon his feet. He was 
anxious to capture the bull, but simple humanity 
compelled him to stop and inquire after the con- 
dition of the unfortunate drummer. He assisted 
the dazed man to his feet, and said, apologeti- 
cally : 

“ Beg your pardon, sir. I am the express agent, 
and was chasing a bull that escaped from his 
crate. I really couldn't help running into you, 
but I hope you are not hurt." 

The man struggled to his feet, panting and 
blowing, and said : 

“ Mein Gott in Himmel, what you do? Where 
are my sample-cases, boy?” 

“ Here they are, sir,” replied Harry, respect- 
fully. 


78 


TRANSFERRING 


“ I haf a mind to report you to the superin- 
tendent,” cried the ruffled son of Isaac, angrily. 

‘‘ All right, but don’t forget to report the bull ; 
he was more to blame than I,” retorted Harry, 
and he started around the engine just as Mr. 
Cummings and the other men came running 
up. 

The irate salesman glared after him a moment, 
and then gathered up his sample-cases and headed 
for the station. 

“ Did his tail pull off? ” inquired Jack Dodd, 
who had heard of the trouble, and came rushing 
out to help. 

“ I don’t know. He was going so fast I didn’t 
have time to check up.” 

“ Too bad,” said the route agent, in a vexed 
tone. “ Olmstead says that was a registered an-- 
imal, and worth hundreds of dollars. It will 
probably get killed among all these freight-trains 
and switch-engines. I wonder where it went ? ” 
Probably making a flying switch somewhere 
in the yard,” said Dave Cleary, one of the car- 
tappers who had helped in the transfer. 

It dodged around the engine here some- 
where,” Harry replied. 

‘‘ It ran around this first string of freight-cars, 
79 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


down in the yard/^ called out the engineer of the 
passenger-train. 

Just then the conductor called out, “ All 
aboard;’^ for passenger and mail trains can’t 
wait for bulls. 

Mr. Cummings said quickly: 

“ Harry, you run back and wheel your freight 
into the office and lock the door ; then come here 
quick as you can and we’ll try to find this fel- 
low. Here are your way-bills Olmstead gave me. 
Hurry now ! ” 

Harry flew light-footed to do his bidding, and 
when he returned, the group of searchers were 
peering behind freight-cars, and flashing their 
lanterns here and there, trying to locate the miss- 
ing animal. 

Rounding a string of freight-cars, they looked 
down the yards. A hundred yards down the 
track they were on, stood a switch-engine with 
steam up, waiting for orders. In the middle of 
the track, in the glare of the headlight, stood 
some object, and they could hear the voices of 
men. 

‘‘ There’s your bull,” called out Cleary ; “ he 
wants to fight that switch-engine.” 

‘‘Which crew is it?” asked Jack Dodd. 

8o 


TRANSFERRING 


“It’s Bill Dugan with the 

The searchers hurried along, and when they 
came near the switch-engine an odd scene was 
presented. 

In front of the engine stood the young bull, 
pawing the ground and bellowing in an ominous 
way. Evidently it was tired of running and pro- 
posed to fight. The switch-crew were trying to 
“ Shoo ” it away, but their efforts were vain. 

“ I’ll bet on the bull,” called out Cleary. 

“The old ‘311 ’ could knock him out, but I 
don’t like to 'muss her up,” responded Dugan, 
who was in the cab with his hand upon the 
throttle. 

“ For heaven’s sake don’t kill him,” cried Mr. 
Cummings ; “ he is a very valuable animal, just 
escaped from the express-car. We must capture 
him some way without hurting him.” 

“ All right, partner, but he looks as if he had 
blood in his eye,” replied Dugan. 

Even as he spoke, the pugnacious bull shov- 
elled more dirt over its back, and then, suddenly 
lowering his head, made a dash for the head- 
light. Just as it was about to smash its adver- 
sary, the cowcatcher interfered ; there was a 
confused struggle to extricate itself from the 
81 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


tangle, and then the fighting bovine fell, and 
rolled upon the ground. At that instant, a reck- 
less young daredevil of a switchman, itching for 
fun and adventure, sprang upon the bull’s back, 
and cried out: 

Here’s your bull. Come and get him.” 

But before the men could reach him, the as- 
tonished animal sprang to its feet, and made off 
down the tracks again with the switchman cling- 
ing to its back. 

“ Hey, bring back that bull ! ” yelled Dugan, 
while the men roared with laughter. 

“ Come back, Mike, and we’ll forgive you,” 
shouted one of his switch-mates. 

The men, headed by Mr. Cummings, hurried 
after them. The bull had gone but a few yards 
when it stumbled over one of the numerous 
switches scattered through the yards, and stum- 
bled to its nose, throwing Mike over its head, 
and he landed upon his back in a pile of cinders. 
Freed from the load upon its back, the little bull 
darted across the tracks, and disappeared behind 
some freight-cars. 

Oh, dear, he’ll be killed ! ” groaned the route 
agent. 


82 


TRANSFERRING 


He will if he puts up his dukes to every en- 
gine he meets,” said Dugan. 

“ Mike,” he called out, ‘‘ are you killed ? ” 

“ Naw, that was only the first round; bring 
on your bull,” and the young switchman limped 
back to the engine. 

He must have got a half-Nelson on you,” 
observed Dugan, as he noticed the limp. 

He got something. Where is he ? ” 

You can search me. He’s probably crawled 
in a box car, and going the rest of the way by 
freight.” 

“ Come on, boys, and see if we can get sight 
of him again,” and Mr. Cummings started across 
the yards, followed by the men. 

“ I must be at the office in thirty minutes. 
Number 3 is due then,” said Harry. 

'' That’s so, I had forgotten that other train,” 
replied Mr. Cummings, in a vexed tone. “ Well, 
you can help till five minutes before train- 
time.” 

But their search was in vain. They searched 
that part of the yards thoroughly. Flashing 
their lanterns around behind box cars, peering 
under loaded coal-flats, and even going so far 
as to look into empty box cars. But no bull. 

83 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


It was as if the earth had opened and swallowed 
him. 

We may as well give it up until daylight,” 
the route agent said, finally; “ if he doesn’t get 
killed to-night, we’ll find him then,” and they 
returned to the office, where Harry improved the 
time before Number 3’s arrival by checking the 
freight from Number 2. 

“ There is a package short,” he announced, a 
few moments later. 

“Where is it going?” 

“ Joplin, Missouri.” 

“ Olmstead should have taken that to Chicago, 
instead of transferring it here; it would make 
better time.” 

“ Probably he left it in the car, in the mix-up,” 
suggested Harry. 

“ Probably. Mark it ‘ short ’ from Olmstead, 
and ask him when he comes back. If he has it, 
he’ll send it through on a mem. bill.” 

“ Who comes out to-night on 3 ? ” asked 
Harry, as he finished checking up. 

“ Heath, I think. You had better call Jack- 
man now for the west; Number 3 is almost 
due.” 

In a few minutes the messenger came out of 
84 


TRANSFERRING 


the depot lodging-house, gaping and stretching; 
the messenger safe was loaded upon the trucks, 
the west run checked, and everything ready for 
the train. 

It soon came puffing and panting into the 
depot, runs were exchanged, Jackman loaded 
into his car, fresh engines coupled on to the 
trains, and in a few minutes, the two messen- 
gers went speeding north and west, and the first 
night’s transfer was over — except the bull. 

“ Let’s get a little sleep and turn out early 
and find that bull,” said Mr. Cummings, yawn- 
ing, as Harry placed the money in the safe, and 
turned the combination. '' I haven’t had any- 
thing bother me as that has, for a good while,” 
he added ; “ seems as if it was a piece of care- 
lessness.” 

“ I suppose so, but I don’t think I was to 
blame,” replied Harry, respectfully, as he locked 
the office door. 

“ No, I’m not blaming you, and perhaps it 
couldn’t have been helped. I don’t know. Good 
night.” 

It seemed to Harry but a moment ere the 
faithful little clock rattled him out. At the depot 
he was joined by Mr. Cummings, and together 

85 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


they once more explored the yards and freight- 
cars. 

No results. They wandered out of the yards 
down to a row of tiny cottages and shanties that 
skirted the tracks. Suddenly Harry said: 

“ There is our bull, now.” He was right. In 
a little wee back yard, surrounded by chicken- 
coops and pig-pens, quietly munching a bit of 
hay, stood the young pedigreed animal that was 
to grace a thoroughbred stock-farm near St. 
Paul, Minn. 

Mr. Cummings’ face lighted up. 

Thank goodness he is safe. I was afraid the 
company was stuck for a big bill of damages 
there. I will remain and watch him, and you go 
after ropes and men.” 

In a short time Harry returned with the neces- 
sary assistance, and after an hour of manoeu- 
vring and work, the precious express package ” 
was lassoed and roped, ready to be led away. 

Just then a shrill voice called out: 

“ Shure an’ ye don’t take thot baste away till 
ye pay the damages to Judy McGee.” 

Looking up, Mr. Cummings saw a burly fe- 
male, brandishing a huge red fist, coming out of 
the little shanty at the front end of the lot. 

86 


TRANSFERRING 


‘‘ You fellows are in for it now, Baker,” 
laughed one of the men. “ Judy has blood in 
her eye.” 

Mr. Cummings mechanically put his hand in 
his pocket. 

What are the damages, my good woman ? ” 
he inquired, pleasantly, as the irate female stood 
before him. 

The lady looked about her, shrewdly and crit- 
ically. 

‘‘Two shlats bees broke on thot coop; th' 
wan ferninst ye. It’s a wonder th’ baste didn’t 
thrample th’ chicks under fut; th’ little darlins. 
I got th’ settin’ uv eggs from Larry Donegon, 
an’ ivery wan uv thim hatched. Larry sez t’ me, 
sez he, ‘ They’re th’ foinest brade uv chicks in th’ 
worruld. Th’ granmother uv these eggs wuz im- 
ported frum th’ ould counthry. Th’ bins lay wan 
egg ivery day, an’ live on th’ pickin’s.’ An’ 
there’s th’ paint scraped off th’ pig-pen ” (said 
paint consisted of a thin brand of whitewash) 
“ an’ th’ boords is all scratched over ; an’ look 
at th’ hay th’ haste’s ait an’ desthroyed ; enough 
t’ kape th’ cow a month, an’ hay costs money, 
as ye’d be afther knowin’ if ye’d iver bought 
ony ; an’ I know they do be chatin’ a poor widdy 

87 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


in th’ weight. See where th’ terrier’s thrampjed 
th’ yard, an’ dug post holes wid his hoofs; a 
day’s woork it’ll be t’ clane it oop. An’ there’s 
th’ ash-bar’l tipped over an’ a stave broke. Ashes 
spilled over the ground, an’ me depindin’ on thim 
t’ make me soap fur th’ summer’s washin’. Och 
hone, sorry th’ day whin th’ baste broke into 
me beautiful yard,” and overcome by thoughts 
of the devastation wrought by the terrible animal, 
the lady threw her tattered apron over her face 
and tangled hair, and wept — or tried to. 

Mr. Cummings drew two shining silver dol- 
lars from his pocket. 

Here, madam, will this make good your 
losses ? ” 

Mrs. McGee heard the jingle of money, and 
quickly uncovered one eye. Involuntarily she 
reached out a brawny fist and clutched the shin- 
ing dollars. 

“ Ye’re a foine mon an’ a gintlemin, an’ it’s 
not Judy McGee thot ’d be afther worryin’ yez 
for phwat ye couldn’t help. Top o’ th’ marnin’ 
till yez, an’ whin ye gits in throuble agin, call 
on Judy McGee. Wait, I’ll open the gate fur 
yez; a foine baste ye have there, an’ probably 
perishin’ fur wather, th’ poor dear.” 

88 


TRANSFERRING 


With an improvised halter, a rope on either 
side, and a man behind to twist his tail, the re- 
luctant bovine was led away, followed by Irish 
blessings. 

It required a good hour’s work before the 
bothersome young bull was again .securely fas- 
tened in his crate ready for shipment. 

“ Did you note the valuation of that animal, 
on the way-bill, Harry?” asked Mr. Cummings, 
as he surveyed, with great satisfaction, the once 
more securely crated bull. 

“ Yes, sir. It was eight hundred dollars.” 

Well, you see, by a little hustling and con- 
siderable good luck, we saved the company that 
eight hundred dollars. Just remember that, in 
your future work. Save the company every dol- 
lar you can, for they will have their eye upon 
you and your work. And never lose sight of 
this fact: if you expect promotion from a com- 
pany or firm, watch its interests as closely as 
you would your own. Don’t do your work in a 
slipshod, mechanical way, as though you cared 
for nothing but pay-day, but keep your eyes, 
ears, and mind alert, and further their interests 
in every possible way. Believe me when I tell 
you that they will keep track of you and your 
89 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


work. They are always on the lookout for an 
energetic, ambitious young fellow; but he must 
be thoroughly honest, for honesty is the bulwark 
and mainstay of business success. 

You have probably heard the expression, 
‘ There is always room at the top.’ The reason 
is, because so few ever really try to reach the 
top. Nine-tenths of them do their work in a 
listless, don’t-care sort of a way, caring nothing 
for their employers’ interests, thinking only of 
the pay-check at the end of the month. These 
men complain, and perhaps curse their company 
for not advancing them, when they haven’t de- 
served it. The men up-stairs must be energetic, 
wide-awake, thoughtful fellows, always working 
and planning for the company’s interests. 

“ But when they die or resign, their places 
must be recruited from the ranks. The company 
looks around over the country to find a suc- 
cessor. It is just as liable to be you as anybody, 
if your work has satisfied the company that you 
are the man for the position. I have known men 
to be taken from a little town of a thousand in- 
habitants, and given a responsible office that paid 
three thousand a year. 

I am aware, Harry, that this is a pretty 
90 


TRANSFERRING 


long and probably unexpected lecture/' said Mr. 
Cummings, smiling apologetically, “ but, to be 
frank, I have taken an interest in you. You are 
young and, I think, honest and intelligent, and 
I want you to start out with the right ideas. 
One word more : the messengers running in here 
will come from various parts of the country. 
Some of them I do not know personally, as they 
have been working out of my territory. We do 
our best to pick honest, trustworthy men, but, of 
course, occasionally a black sheep gets in. Don’t 
let any of them influence you to do anything that 
you wouldn’t want me to know about. I don’t 
ask you to spy upon the men, but just keep your 
eyes open for your own good. Now let’s go to 
breakfast; I’m hungry, and I want to go back 
this morning. You can run things now, can’t 
you?” 

'‘Yes, sir. I think I understand everything; 
and I am much obliged for your kind advice.” 

" Don’t mention it, my boy. I always like to 
see a young fellow start out right. I was young 
myself once.” 

Harry watched the iron-gray hair and frosty 
mustache of his superior disappear around the 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


eating-house, with the relieved feeling that he 
had at least one friend in the world. 

He locked the safe, and was poring over some 
way-bills a moment before going to breakfast, 
when a shadow darkened the doorway. 


92 


CHAPTER VIL 


LUCK AND TROUBLE 

Harry looked up and saw Jack Dodd. I 
see you’ve got that troublesome bull cooped up 
again, ready for shipment,” he remarked. 

“Yes, thank our lucky stars; and not a 
scratch on him.” 

“ More luck than sense, considering that he 
was liable to get knocked galley-west any min- 
ute.” 

“ That’s what Mr. Cummings said. He was 
mightily relieved when we got the critter back 
safe and sound in the crate, I can tell you.” 

“Have you checked up yet?” queried Jack. 

“ Yes.” 

“Everything check up all right?” 

“ One package short. Probably Olmstead 
overlooked it, and left it in the car.” 

A shade of uneasiness passed over Dodd’s 
face, and he said, quietly: 

93 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 

“ I doubt very much if you ever see that pack- 
age again/’ 

“ Why ? What do you mean ? ” and Harry 
looked up in alarm. 

“ I may be mixed up on the deal, but last night, 
when I heard of your excitement, I ran out to 
see if I could help any. Your truck was stand- 
ing by the car, and the messenger stood in the 
door, looking up the platform after you. I was 
looking up that way, too, when all at once, out 
of the corner of my eye, it seemed as if I saw 
a shadow, or a man, I couldn’t tell which, dodge 
out from the shadow of the cars, snatch a pack- 
age from the truck, and dodge back. It was all 
done in a flash, and I wouldn’t swear yet that 
it was a man, but I couldn’t get it out of my 
head but what somebody or something snatched 
a package from that truck, so I thought I’d ask 
you if everything checked up all right; now 
that you find a package short. I’m inclined to 
think somebody thought he needed it worse than 
you did.” 

‘‘ Perhaps you’re right. We’ll know when 
Olmstead comes back. If it’s lost, I suppose I’m 
stuck for the value of it.” 

** You’ll have to watch things pretty close here 
94 


LUCK AND TROUBLE 


nights. This is a bad yard for hoboes and 
toughs.’^ 

“ I know it. That mix-up last night bothered 
me so for a minute that I forgot all about the 
other freight; but Olmstead was right there in 
his car.’’ 

“ Olmstead wasn’t watching that freight. He 
was watching you chase that bull, slapping his 
leg and laughing all over. I could have stolen 
a dozen packages right from under his nose.” 

“ Well, it will teach me a lesson to keep my 
eyes open after this. But I haven’t been to 
breakfast yet, and I have some work to do before 
6 comes. My boss goes in on her, and I want 
to see him again, too.” 

Harry puzzled and pondered over the lost 
package on his way to breakfast, but could ar- 
rive at no conclusion in the matter, so he dis- 
missed it from his mind for the present. 

“ What made you get up so early ? ” inquired 
Phil, who had finished his breakfast. 

Oh, I was out chasing an express package,” 
replied Harry, as he broke a soft-boiled egg. 

“ Do express packages have legs ? ” asked 
Phil, wonderingly. 

“This one did; four of them.” 

95 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


‘'What was it?'' asked his mother, as she 
poured his coffee. 

“ A young bull got out of his crate. We 
chased him all over the yards last night, and 
finally lost him. This morning we started out 
again, and found him in the Widow McGee's 
back yard." 

“ What did she say ? " laughed Mrs. Baker, 
as she sliced more bread for Harry’s healthy ap- 
petite. 

“ Oh, she scolded, and told us all the damage 
he had done to the pig-pen, ash-barrel, etc. I 
think the actual damage was about two Cents, 
but Mr. Cummings gave her two silver dollars, 
he was so pleased to get the bull back safe. My, 
but wasn’t she a tickled Irishwoman! She told 
him any time he ever got into trouble again to 
call on her," and Harry laughed at the recollec- 
tion of Mrs. McGee's joy. 

“ Poor woman. The two dollars will do her 
lots of good, for she works hard,” said Mrs. 
Baker, sympathizingly. 

“ I guess it was the easiest two dollars she 
ever earned," remarked Harry, as he took up 
his hat to go back to the office. 

Mr. Cummings was waiting for him, and 
96 


LUCK AND TROUBLE 


when, they were alone in the office, Harry told 
him Dodd’s story of the missing package. 

“ It is quite possible that some thief was stand- 
ing there, and snatched it during the excitement. 
You will have to look sharp here nights, during 
the transfer. I see it is a pretty busy place, and 
lots of people around, coming and going. Above 
all, watch the money and valuable package trans- 
fer. You are liable to get large sums of money 
at any time, and jewelry. Get them into the 
safe soon as possible, and keep the safe locked. 
You don’t want to lose any five-thousand-dollar 
packages of money, if you can help it.” 

“No, I guess not. I’ve a three-hundred-dol- 
lar mortgage to lift from our home, and I’m 
afraid it would take some time to do it, if I had 
to pay many such losses as that,” replied Harry, 
smiling. 

“ Then keep your eyes open, and your mind 
upon your work.” 

“ I’ll do my best, Mr. Cummings.” 

“ That’s all we can ask. By the way, Martin 
goes in this morning. I called him just before 
I came out. He came in on Number 3 last night, 
and went right to bed.” 

“ And who comes in from the west ? ” 


97 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


‘‘ I think it’s George Parker. There’s the train 
whistling now, and here is Martin,” as a young 
man came hurriedly into the office. 

‘‘ Yes, I overslept a little. This is the agent, 
I suppose. Got anything besides my safe to load 
up ? Any hen-coops or canary-birds ? ” and Mr. 
Martin looked gravely at the young agent. 

No, sir, nothing this morning,” replied 
Harry, demurely. 

“ I want you boys to help Mr. Baker take care 
of things out here ; there will be enough of you,” 
said the route agent, in a half-serious way.- 

“ Sure. We’ll watch over him like a mother,” 
replied Martin, in the same vein. ‘‘ Whom do I 
catch this morning?” 

“ Parker should come in. There’s the whistle 
now.” 

In a few moments the train was in, and the 
runs were being transferred. 

I understand you lost a bull here last night,” 
said Parker as they were lifting out his safe. 

We did. How did you hear about it?” 
asked Harry, in astonishment. 

“ I met Jackman on Number 3 out in Iowa, 
and he said you fellows were chasing all over 


98 


LUCK AND TROUBLE 

the yards after a bull. Did you find him all 
right? 

“ Yes, we found him this morning in an Irish- 
woman’s back yard, munching hay contentedly, 
as though he hadn’t done a thing. He goes 
north to-night on Gilmore’s run.” 

You were in luck not to have him killed, 
around all these freight-trains. It’s better to 
be born lucky than rich.” 

‘‘ He didn’t have time to get killed ; we chased 
him too hard. Where’s this coop of chickens 
going?” 

“ Some valley out in the country. They’re 
billed here. ' Strawberry Valley,’ that’s it,” said 
Parker, as he read the tag. 

“ So I’ve got to feed and water this pair of 
fowls till the owner calls for them,” remarked 
Harry, with a grimace. 

“ Of course. You want to earn your salary, 
don’t you?” 

“ I guess so,” replied Harry, resignedly, as 
he lifted the coop, containing a handsome pair of 
fowls, out upon the truck. “ A bull last night 
and chickens to-day; I wonder what will come 
next.” 

That’s only a starter, my boy,” said Mr. 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


Cummings, with an amused laugh ; “ you will 
find that almost everything on earth goes by 
express. You are liable to get anything in the 
live stock line, from a field-mouse to a royal 
Bengal tiger or a boa-constrictor. You will get 
used to it after awhile.’’ 

All right. I can stand it if the other boys 
can.” 

Some one touched his arm, and Harry turned 
to see a short, heavy-set farmer. ‘‘ Ish dere 
two schickens coomed by der express for Hans 
Yokey? Von ish a cock, und von ish a hen.” 

“ There ish,” returned Parker, tersely, before 
Harry could answer ; “ they are on the truck 
here.” 

“ Goot. I vas to expect dem to-day, still yet 
already,” and the stolid Teutonic face glowed 
with pleasure. 

“ You can get them in just a minute,” said 
Harry. 

“ Yah, das ish goot. I am in no hurry yet. 
Mine bruder he send heem from Idaho still. He 
haf der schicken farm, und he write me he send 
two for nodings, eef I pay der express. Das vos 
er schnap, so I say, ‘ Send ’em along already,’ 
und here dey are. I get two schickens scheap, I 


lOO 


LUCK AND TROUBLE 


dinks/’ and a broad smile overspread Mr. Yo- 
key’s classic features. 

‘‘ Wait till he sees the bill, and he’ll faint dead 
away,” murmured Parker, in an aside to Harry. 
“ They’ve been transferred twice.” 

“ Well, Harry, good-by. Be careful and watch 
the corners. I’ll be out occasionally to see how 
you get along,” and Mr. Cummings shook hands 
as the conductor shouted, All aboard,” and was 
gone. 

Come to the office and you can get your 
chickens,” and Harry and the messenger started 
away with the rattling truck, and its load of 
freight. 

‘^Yah,'l coom.” 

When they arrived at the office Harry said : 

‘‘ The charges may seem a little high, but 
they have come a long distance and been trans- 
ferred two or three times.” 

Vill it be more as a quarter? ” inquired the 
farmer, innocently. 

“Yes, sir, I’m afraid it will; a good deal 
more,” returned Harry as he rapidly checked 
over the way-bills, while George Parker turned 
and walked into the rear room to hide his mirth. 

“ I tawt dat all express packages vas a quar- 

IQ! 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


ter. I never got but two, und das vas bote a 
quarter,” remarked the farmer, his face length- 
ening somewhat, as he moved about uneasily. 

“ The charges are $4.80,” said Harry, speak- 
ing in as pleasant and winning a manner as pos- 
sible, with the hope of softening the blow. 

“ Four tollar und eighty cent. Vy, das is vort 
more as der schickens ! ” he gasped, his mouth 
opening with amazement, as he looked' at Harry 
in a dazed sort of way. 

I know the charges seem a little high, but we 
can’t help it; we didn’t put them there. They 
have been handled by two express companies, 
and been over two or three railroads. Each ex- 
press company must have its pay for carrying 
them. The advance charges on these chickens 
are $2.10.” 

“Vos is dat about advance scharges? There 
VOS no advance scharges. Mine bruder he gif 
me de schickens. I am robbed. I vill no pay,” 
and the irate farmer danced about with rage, 
and returned the wallet to his pocket. 

“ No, you are not robbed,” returned Harry, 
sharply; “the advance charges I referred to are 
the money we pay to another express company 
that handled them first. Our charges are added 



“‘FOUR TOLLAR UND EIGHTY CENT. VY, DAS IS VORT 
MORE AS DER SCHICKENS ! ’ ” 


1 




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4 






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LUCK AND TROUBLE 


to them, making the total amount $4.80, as I 
told you.’' 

“ Four tollar und eighty cent,” repeated Mr. 
Yokey ; “ vy, it would puy a pull calf almost still.” 

In the back room, the messenger, George Par- 
ker, was gently quaking with laughter at the old 
farmer’s predicament. The monkey stood just 
in sight of Harry, and went through a panto- 
mime of facial contortions and imitation groans, 
thrusting his hand into his pocket as though un- 
willingly, and withdrawing his purse, would 
look at it sadly and shake his head. Of course 
Harry must keep a straight face in spite of this 
side-show. 

“ You see, they are in an extra heavy coop,” 
said Harry, by way of explanation ; “ twice as 
heavy as need be. Whoever shipped them, evi- 
dently thought more of their getting here safe 
than he did of the amount of the express 
charges.” 

“ Yah ; mine bruder he send ’em.” 

Harry’s explanation turned the tide. The 
thoughts that his brother had made the coop 
extra strong and heavy to ensure the safe ar- 
rival of the fowls, softened the old farmer’s 
heart, and loosened his purse-strings. He looked 
103 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


at the pair of handsome fowls in the heavy, un- 
wieldy coop long and earnestly. Evidently 
thoughts of the faderland, and a loved and lov- 
ing brother, came over him; a brother in far- 
away Idaho trying to do him a favor. With a 
sigh of resignation, he slowly counted out the 
money and said: 

“ Veil, I pay der scharges und take der schick- 
ens, but it vas von awful price.” 

‘‘ I will wheel them out to the landing for 
you. I suppose your wagon is there?” said 
Harry, kindly. 

‘‘Yah; mine poy Schon, he vait for me.” 

Harry wheeled out the crate, and helped the 
old man load it in the wagon, and returned to 
the office feeling very much relieved. 

“ Well, if that wasn’t a case of pure luck, I 
don’t know what is. You are all right, my son; 
the right man in the right place. If you are not 
president of the express company inside of ten 
years, then I miss my guess. Any agent who 
can corral an eight-hundred-dollar bull in a rail- 
road yard in the night and get him back into 
the crate without a scratch, and follow it up by 
getting $4.80 charges out of a couple of old 
Western hens, is certainly slated for higher work. 

104 


LUCK AND TROUBLE 


It don’t make any difference whether you’ve got 
brains or not; luck will take the place of them. 
Why, I’d sooner have your luck than a license 
to steal,” and Parker paused and glared at 
Harry in a half-injured way. 

The latter’s eyes shone with mirth and self- 
satisfaction. “ No luck about it. Just good 
management on my part. But I can’t see what 
that agent out in Idaho was thinking about, to 
accept two chickens for that distance, without 
the charges being guaranteed, especially with 
that lumber shed of a coop. It was big and 
heavy enough to ship a cow in.” 

‘‘No management about it, just pure luck. 
But come and check in my run.” 

The run was duly checked in, and then Parker 
said : 

“ What’s a fellow to do between runs, in this 
benighted town ? ” 

“ Oh, eat, sleep, go ta church and read tracts.” 

“ Guess I’ll make tracks for the lunch-counter, 
the first thing,” and Mr. Parker disappeared 
around the corner. 

In a few days the messengers had all reported 
in, with their runs, and the transfer office was 
fairly started. 

105 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


When Olmstead returned on his run, Harry 
anxiously inquired if he had been ‘‘ over a 
package. 

“ No, everything checked up all right. I put 
everything out here that belonged here. Why? 
Were you short a package ? ” 

Then Harry told him the circumstances of the 
missing piece, and Dodd’s suspicions. 

‘‘ Probably somebody pinched it. I was 
watching so intently to see if you could outrun 
that bull calf, that a man might have stolen the 
hat off my head. Better write the forwarding 
agent, find out what it was, and the value, and 
let him expense you for the amount; no other 
way out of it that I know of : you’ll have to pay 
it in the end, anyhow.” 

“ I suppose that’s all I can do. I’d like to 
know who took it, though.” 

Probably a tramp ; or possibly some pro- 
fessional thief, going through on the train, saw 
a chance to pinch something in the excitement. 
You may not lose another package in a year,” said 
Olmstead, consolingly, as he handed Harry his 
way-bills. 

I hope so. I don’t want to pay out all my 
salary for stolen packages,” said Harry as he 

io6 


LUCK AND TROUBLE 

picked up the truck-handle and started for the 
office. The night was rather dark, and but few 
passengers or railway employees were on the 
platform. He was about half-way to the office, 
the big four-wheeled truck rumbling noisily over 
the board walk, when a form stole swiftly and 
noiselessly from the. shadows, snatched a package 
from the truck, and disappeared in the gloom. 


CHAPTER VIII. 


TOM PURDY 

Harry saw nothing of this little drama, and 
when, a second later, a man carrying a lantern 
dashed past him toward the rear of the truck, he 
stopped and wheeled about in amazement. 

He saw the man with the lantern leap fr^m the 
platform and disappear behind a string of box 
cars. His first thought was, that the fellow had 
taken this method of stealing an express package, 
but a second’s thought convinced him that the 
man was moving too swiftly to accomplish that 
feat. 

While he stood wondering at the strange per- 
formance, the man with the lantern reappeared 
from behind the box cars, stepped up on the 
platform, and walked quickly up to where Harry 
stood motionless. In one hand he carried his 
lantern, and in the other a small bundle. He 
was panting and blowing with exertion. He 
io8 


TOM PURDY 


held the lantern up breast high, so that both faces 
were visible in the rays. 

“Tom Purdy!” 

“That you, Harry?” 

“What’s the meaning of this, Tom?” asked 
Harry in perplexity. 

The former held up a bundle. “ Is this your 
package?” 

“ Why, I don’t know. I haven’t lost anything 
that I know of, to-night,” said Harry, wonder- 
ingly. 

Tom chuckled. “ You did, just the same. I 
was coming down the platform, and just hap- 
pened to see a fellow jump out from behind that 
box of coal, jerk a package off the truck, and 
jump back. I knew in a second that something 
crooked was going on, so I went after him. I’m 
a pretty good sprinter, and I got so close to him 
that he dropped the bundle and skipped between 
some freight-cars. I saw it was no use chasing 
him then, so I picked up the bundle and came 
back. He evidently didn’t want to be caught.” 

Harry held out his hand gratefully. 

“ Thank you, Tom, you have done me a great 
favor. This is the second package I have had 
stolen this way.” 

109 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


“ Pshaw ; you don’t say so ! ” 

“Yes; come down to the office and Pll tell 
you about it.” 

They went to the office, where Paul Drake, 
one of the western messengers, sat indulging in 
a short smoke before going to bed. 

Harry introduced the two men and then said, 
“ ril check this little bunch of freight first, Tom, 
and then tell you about it.” 

“ Get out your way-bills, and I’ll call it for 
you,” said Drake, good-naturedly. 

It was a short task for two. Drake called 
the items swiftly from long practice, and in a 
few moments remarked, as he tossed the last 
package from the truck, “ That’s what the shoe- 
maker threw at his wife.” 

“ Everything checks up all right, thanks to 
you, Tom,” said Harry, with a look of relief. 

“ Don’t mention it ; glad to do you a favor. 
Only wish I could have got my fins on that 
fellow. I would have broken him of one bad 
habit,” replied Purdy. 

Harry laughed. “ I don’t doubt it, Tom. I 
would hate to have been in his shoes if you had 
ever got hold of him.” 


I lO 


TOM PURDY 


“ What’s that ? ” inquired Paul Drake, looking 
interested. 

“ Why, a fellow stole a package from the truck 
when I was coming in. Tom happened to see 
him do it, and chased him so hard he dropped it,” 
said Harry as he locked up his money run. 

The messenger gave a long low whistle. 

Sneak-thieves, eh? If they are around, you 
want to watch sharp. They’re quick as cats, and 
slippery as eels.” 

“ I won-’t take any more chances,” said Harry, 
decidedly ; ‘‘ at least, any more than I can help. 
It isn’t any fun paying for lost packages.” 

“ No, I’ve had a little experience in that line 
myself,” replied Drake, meditatively, as he 
poured out a volume of smoke that trailed up- 
ward toward the ceiling. 

“ What about the other package you lost ? ” 
asked Tom Purdy, as he glanced at his watch 
somewhat anxiously, adding : “ I go west in about 
an hour.” 

“ Why, it was stolen off the truck, just about 
like this one was,” replied Harry, and then he 
told of the circumstances attending the loss of 
the other piece of freight. 

Purdy nodded his head in a convinced way. 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


“ It was either the same man or the same gang 
of men” 

“ Many tramps and hoboes around these 
yards ? ” inquired Drake, as he scratched a match 
along the side of the truck and relighted his 
pipe. 

'' Plenty of them. We are firing them out of 
the box cars every day,” Purdy replied. 

“ And the depot police are chasing them every 
day,” added Harry. 

“ Your trouble is probably from tramps, and 
you want to look out that they don’t hold you 
up for the ^ long green ; ’ there’s some mighty 
smooth crooks among those fellows,” observed 
Drake. 

“ I’ll keep an eye on the truck all the time 
after this, when I’m bringing in a run,” said 
Harry as he straightened up the freight, for 
Number 3 was his last night train. 

“ You’ll have to get the man that comes in 
on the run to walk along and guard you. First 
thing you know, you’ll be held up proper,” said 
Drake as he put away his pipe and started for 
bed. 

“What have you got to-night, Tom?” 

“ Oh, a string of empties and a few loads of 


TOM PURDY 


farm upholstery. I must get down to the ca- 
boose, too, right away. Good night.” 

“ Good night, Tom,” called Harry. 

In a few moments the office was securely 
locked, and he was on his way home to get a few 
hours' sleep before the morning trains were due. 

A few words regarding Tom Purdy may not 
be amiss here. 

He had been a freight conductor for years, 
and now stood on the extra passenger list. 

A man about thirty years of age, of ordinary 
size and height, and to look at him, the casual 
observer would never dream of the bundles of 
steel springs that answered for muscles, or of 
the power, quickness, and energy concentrated 
in his frame. His arm was a bar of iron, as 
more than one man who had felt the weight of 
it could testify. 

Good-natured and kind-hearted, but very 
quick-tempered ; in fact, it was a byword among 
his mates that the bristles would rise on Tom 
Purdy’s back quicker than any man on the 
road.” 

In consequence of his quick temper, he was 
always getting into fights and scrapes, from 
which he always emerged victor, with any sort 
113 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


of an even show. His friends claimed he could 
whip his weight in wildcats.” 

True and loyal to his friends, he would fight 
for them when necessary with his last ounce of 
muscle. 

Of course, the officers of the road knew his 
fault, but he was such an honest, faithful fellow 
that he was rarely reprimanded; particularly as 
it was generally found upon investigation that 
he was in the right. He had many powerful 
friends and admirers ‘‘ up-stairs,” who, when 
Tom Purdy was called “ on the carpet,” saw that 
he was let off easy. 

The secret of his tremendous power and 
energy seemed to lie in the fact that when he 
did anything, instead of going at it in a half- 
hearted, don’t-know-about-it way, he unhesitat- 
ingly threw the whole strength of his indomita- 
ble will into the task to be done, and of course 
he succeeded, whether it was running a train 
or throwing tramps from a box car. 

Unconsciously he had appropriated the old 
maxim, What you do, do with all your might.” 

As an example of the way the officials re- 
garded his fights, and the confidence they felt in 
his being in the right : the superintendent of the 


TOM PURDY 


division was one day in his office, receiving des- 
patches and giving orders, when over the wire 
from the western part of the division flashed a 
message that caused the operator to grin and 
his eyes to shine. 

“ Trouble out West,’' he remarked, as he 
copied the message. 

“ What’s the matter now ? ” 

For answer, the operator handed him the fol- 
lowing telegram : 

“ The devil is to pay here. Tom Purdy has 
nearly killed his engineer and broken all the fur- 
niture in the office.” 

The superintendent looked up quickly. 

Who is his engineer this trip ? ” 

The operator named a particularly mean, un- 
popular man. 

“ Good for Tom. I’ll pay for the furniture,” 
chuckled the official; and he did. 

It was found upon investigation that Tom was 
in the right, and really couldn’t avoid the row 
without backing down, which of course he 
wouldn’t, so the matter was dropped. But we 
shall hear from Tom Purdy again. 


CHAPTER IX. 


A ‘‘ FOWL ” JOKE 

In a couple of weeks affairs at the transfer 
office had assumed shape so that Harry felt mas- 
ter of the situation; felt at home and content 
with his work. 

Of the messengers, there were Frank Jackman, 
Paul Drake, George Parker, Gus Thompson, 
Ben Brown, and Sam Andrews running west; 
Phil Haverly, Harley Burt, and Tom Martin 
running east. These had their lay-over at Harry’s 
office. In addition, there was James Olmstead, 
William Heath, and Howard Gilmore, running 
north, who brought out the west night runs 
from Chicago, turned them over to Harry, and 
went on north to the end of their run. Lewis 
Clark, another messenger, twice a day — morn- 
ing and evening — brought in a little stub run 
from a neighboring city that was transferred to 
the main line in the various directions. 

1 16 


A JOKE 

Of course such a motley assemblage included 
all kinds and classes of men, with ages ranging 
from twenty-five to sixty. Veterans of two 
wars were represented, and the beardless youth, 
who was making his initial bow to the express 
world. 

Some of them were inveterate practical jokers, 
and were never so happy as when perpetrating 
one of their execrable jokes upon a friend or foe; 
it mattered little which to them. 

Perhaps the most inveterate of these jokers 
was Gus Thompson. The boys claimed he would 
lie awake nights to think up some scheme to 
harass an acquaintance or friend. 

Harry’s office soon became headquarters for 
conductors, baggagemen, brakemen, messengers, 
and various railway officials. Needless to say, 
the jokes, tricks, and pranks played there, to- 
gether with the stories told, would fill a volume. 

Harry was a general favorite with all, and 
while he attended strictly to business and took 
little part in the pranks and jokes, he neverthe- 
less enjoyed a joke as keenly as the rest. 

Another practical joker was a passenger con- 
ductor named Charlie Conroy. He was also a 
great chicken fancier, and was constantly boast- 
117 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


ing of his blooded fowls. Now it so happened 
that he very much wished to get started in a cer- 
tain strain of thoroughbred chickens that were 
very rare in that part of the country. The eggs 
sold at a fabulous price. 

One day on his run out, Gus Thompson caught 
Conroy’s train, and after they were well out of 
the station, the conductor came back into the ex- 
press-car. The first object that caught his at- 
tention was a pair of fine-looking fowls in a coop. 

His eye lighted up in an instant, and he said : 

‘‘ Hello, Gus ; where are these fellows go- 
ing?” 

“ Out West somewhere,” replied Thompson, 
indifferently, as he went on checking his run. 

I’ve been trying to get a setting of eggs 
from that breed for a year. Say, Gus,” he added, 
insinuatingly, ‘‘if that old hen lays an egg on 
the run save it for me. The chances are it would 
get broken and never ^o the owner any good,” 
and Conroy gazed longingly at the high-bred 
fowls. 

“ No need to do that, Charlie,” said Gus, 
straightening up ; “I can get you a setting of 
eggs out at the other end of the run. A friend 
of mine has some of these same chickens.” 

1 18 


A ‘^FOWL’’ JOKE 


“ Do so, Gus, and I’ll pay you double price 
and be your grandmother besides,” cried Con- 
roy, joyfully. 

“ Oh, never mind the pay ; that will be all 
right. I’ll get the eggs for you this trip, if pos- 
sible,” returned Thompson, pleasantly. 

“ Good boy. I’ll do something for you some 
time,” said Conroy, giving him a hearty slap on 
the back, as he started on his rounds of collect- 
ing tickets. 

The messenger runs were much longer than 
the trainmen’s, so Conroy returned first. Of 
course he dropped into the express office. 

“ Gus Thompson will probably leave some 
eggs here for me, and if he does, be sure and 
take good care of them, Harry, and I’ll get them 
on my next run in.” 

“ All right. If he leaves any with me. I’ll 
take good care of them,” replied Harry, pleas- 
antly. 

‘‘ It was very kind of Gus. I’ve been trying 
to find a setting of those eggs for a long time,” 
remarked Conroy as he went out. 

When Thompson returned, Harry said after 
they had checked in : 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


‘‘ Did you bring some eggs for Charlie Con- 
roy?’’ 

“ Yes, but I sent them on into Chicago with 
Tom Martin; I thought Conroy would get them 
quicker, and I know he wants to get them 
hatched soon as possible,” replied Thompson, 
gravely. 

“I’m glad you got them, and I hope he suc- 
ceeds in hatching every chicken,” said Harry. 
“ I never saw a man so tickled over anything in 
my life. He has told every man on the division, 
I guess, about the fine chickens he is going to 
raise from those eggs.” 

“ Yes, I hope he has good luck with them,” 
and Thompson’s homely face twisted about, like 
a man with the colic. 

One peculiarity of Gus’s facial expression was 
that one could never tell whether he was trying 
to laugh or cry. 

The delighted Conroy received the eggs in due 
time; they were at once placed under a sober, 
steady, reliable hen, and he joyfully awaited de- 
velopments. 

In his exuberance he just couldn’t refrain 
from talking about it. Conductors, brakemen, 
baggagemen, messengers, anybody who would 


120 


A ‘‘FOWL’^ JOKE 


listen to him, in fact, were regaled day after 
day with what the boys called “ Conroy’s chicken 
talk.” 

Slowly the time drifted by until the necessary 
twenty-one days for the hatching of the chickens 
had expired. About that time, Thompson took 
the boys into his confidence, and when the con- 
ductor went out on his next run he was greeted 
everywhere by the query,- 

“ Have the chickens hatched out yet, 
Charlie? ” 

“ No, but they will be when I get back,” he 
replied to everybody. 

But when he returned, he found, to his amaze- 
ment, that the eggs had not hatched. 

On his 'next run the queries were still more 
numerous and pressing. Even the call-boys 
picked up the refrain, and inquired: 

“Chickens hatched yet, Charlie?” 

So time drifted on until the refractory chicks 
were two weeks overdue, and Conroy almost 
dreaded to go out on his run. 

Outside of his regular routine of duties about 
all he heard was: 

“ Chickens hatched yet, Charlie ? ” 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


About that time he met Thompson in the 
transfer office. 

“ What do you suppose is the reason those 
eggs don’t hatch, Gus?” he inquired, anxiously. 

‘‘Haven’t they hatched yet?” asked Gus, in 
apparent surprise. 

“ No; not a sign of a chicken. Couldn’t have 
been spoiled or rotten, could they ? ” 

“ Rotten ! Pshaw, of course not ! The man 
told me they were fresh eggs.” 

“ Perhaps they are such high-grade chickens 
it takes longer to hatch them,” suggested one of 
the boys. 

“ Something is the matter. They’re two 
weeks overdue now.” 

The numerous inquiries after the health of his 
fancy chickens made Conroy a little bit uneasy, 
and on his return home he went to the hen- 
house, where the faithful hen was still hovering 
over the precious eggs and brooding over her 
expected family. 

He hesitated a moment, and then taking one 
of the eggs, split it in two. The mystery was 
explained. Thompson had hard - boiled every 
one of them, and every man on the road knew 
it. 


122 


A JOKE 


We decline to print Mr. Conroy’s remarks 
upon the occasion, and it was a long time before 
he heard the last of the query: 

“Have the eggs hatched yet, Charlie?” 


123 


CHAPTER X. 


TOM PURDY AND THE ‘‘ BAD MAN 

It was a sweltering hot morning at the depot, 
but despite that fact everything was bustle and 
hurry. The morning passenger trains from the 
west, south, and north were in, and standing 
at rest, waiting to change engines. Passengers 
were scurrying here and there, carrying grips 
and bundles, and asking questions of everybody 
they met, as to which train they should take. 
Trucks were rattling and engine-bells clanging. 

Hostlers ” were rushing engines to and from 
the roundhouse, putting away the ones that had 
just brought in the trains, and bringing out 
fresh ones, which were to whirl the varnished 
cars to Chicago. The express office was a busy 
scene. Harry had checked out and loaded in 
Phil Haverly for Chicago, and was checking 
in Ben Brown, the incoming western messenger. 

Conductors, brakemen, and messengers were 
clustered in and about the office, laughing, jok- 
124 


PURDY AND THE ‘‘BAD MAN’' 


ing, telling stories, and getting off “railroad 
talk.’^ There was always something new to dis- 
cuss. At present, the topic of absorbing interest 
was a Western desperado, who boarded passen- 
ger-trains at intervals along the line in Iowa, 
rode as far as he pleased, and then got off. He 
never had a ticket or pass, and no conductor had 
ever been able to make him pay any fare or put 
him off the train. 

This dreaded individual carried a revolver, 
and was supposed to be a bruiser. As the aver- 
age conductor did not yearn to get shot or 
whipped, he let the bad man ride unmolested. 

If the conductor insisted upon a ticket or cash 
fare, the desperado reached for a gun, or gave 
the poor man a look that froze his marrow and 
caused him to pass along without further parley. 

“ I tell you, the company ought to put an of- 
ficer on every passenger-train, and keep him there 
until that fellow shows up; then let him take 
care of the critter,’^ said A1 Manly, one of the 
conductors going in that morning. 

“ I think you’re right, Al,” nodded Ham 
Werden, another conductor. “ I hired out to 
run my train, and I try to run it right, but I 
didn’t agree to put myself up as a target for 
125 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


toughs to shoot at, or try to whip every prize- 
fighter that comes along. The company has de- 
tectives and policemen, who ought to attend to 
that.” 

He never got on my train, so I never saw 
him,” observed Manly. 

“ Well, he got on mine once, and I let him 
ride, too. He showed ‘ credentials ’ that gave 
him a pass on my train. He is one of the tough- 
est specimens I ever ran across,” said Werden, 
grimly. 

“What about that Western tough? Has he 
showed up lately ? ” inquired Sam Custer, a 
conductor on the south run, who did not go into 
the “ bad man’s ” territory, as he came into the 
office. 

“Yes; Steve Burns caught him day before 
yesterday out in Iowa. When he tried to col- 
lect the fellow’s fare, the critter pulled a gun, 
and told Steve if he didn’t go along about his 
business and quit bothering him he would throw 
him off the train and run it himself.” 

“What did Steve do?” 

“ He let him ride, of course. The fellow had 
the drop on him. What could he do ? ” 

Custer laughed and shook his head. “ I’m 
126 


PURDY AND THE ‘‘BAD MAN’' 


glad that party doesn’t have occasion to pass 
through my territory. I haven’t lost any West- 
ern toughs.” 

“ Why didn’t Steve round up the train-crew 
and put him off ? ” asked Harry, who had 
stopped checking, and was listening with eager 
interest. 

“ Steve started to do that, but there wasn’t 
a gun in the crowd, and that fellow was armed 
to the teeth. Somebody would have been killed, 
besides scaring the passengers to death, and 
maybe shooting some of them. So Steve let him 
ride. He only went about fifty miles, and got 
off.” 

“ Best way,” nodded Werden. The com- 
pany would sooner have it that way than pay 
for the damages and lawsuits.” 

“ Boys,” said Jack Dodd, who had paused at 
the door a moment, and was listening to the con- 
versation, “ I just want to live long enough to 
hear of that fellow climbing on to Tom Purdy’s 
train.” 

“ So do I,” burst out A1 Manly, with heartfelt 
emphasis. “ I’d give a ten-dollar note out of my 
own pocket.” 

“ I guess we all would, for that matter,” re- 
127 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


marked Werden, “but there isn’t much show. 
Purdy is only extra passenger man, and that fel- 
low doesn’t show up for a month or two some- 
times. It’s a question whether Tom could do 
anything with him, anyhow. The chances are 
the fellow would get the drop on him.” 

“ I’d like to see it tried, anyhow,” said Jack 
as he passed along. 

“If Charlie Conroy had only caught the gen- 
tleman when he had that setting of Gus Thomp- 
son’s eggs, he might have knocked his head off 
with hard-boiled eggs,” remarked Ben Brown, 
as he finished checking in and lighted his 
pipe. 

This sally raised a general laugh, and A1 
Manly said, as he glanced at his watch: 

“Tell Charlie that — bless me, if it isn’t leav- 
ing-time,” and dashed out of the office. 

In a few minutes every passenger-train had de- 
parted, and the noisy switch-engines and puffing 
freight-trains held sway in the yards. 

“ Who is this Tom Purdy the boys were talk- 
ing about? ” asked Ben Brown, as he tipped his 
chair back comfortably against the open door. 

“ He is a freight conductor ; been on the ex- 
tra passenger list for a year or so,” replied 
128 


PURDY AND THE ‘‘BAD MAN’’ 


Harry, as he retied a package that had become 
loosened. 

“ Must be a scrapper from the way they 
talked!” 

“Not exactly. He’s a very peaceful, jolly 
fellow, until you try to impose upon him; then 
look out for snakes, for he’s a whirlwind. I’ve 
seen him in three fights myself, and each time 
he had the other fellow licked before he had time 
to get into action. He seems to be a man of 
iron, with muscles of steel. He is very quick- 
tempered, especially if he thinks you are trying 
to impose upon him, and he doesn’t know such 
a thing as fear.” 

“ I wouldn’t mind seeing such a man tackle 
that Western gentleman,” remarked Brown, as 
he crossed his legs. 

“ I rather dread the idea,” returned Harry. 
“ Tom is so quick-tempered and fearless that 
he would tackle the fellow if he were big as a 
mountain and bristled with guns. Tom is one 
of my best friends, and I’d hate to see him get 
hurt.” 

“ Oh, if he is all you say he is, he’ll take care 
of himself; don’t you worry,” responded Ben, 
carelessly. 


129 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


Two days later, as Harry was making out his 
abstract, feeling drowsy and listless from night 
work. Jack Dodd dashed into the office. He 
was bursting with excitement, and his eyes were 
snapping and dancing. In his hand he held a 
yellow slip of paper. 

Look out for war. Something is going to 
drop.’' 

Harry looked up quickly, wondering if Jack 
had suddenly taken leave of his senses. 

What’s the matter. Jack? What ails you? ” 

The latter chuckled, and handed Harry the 
slip of paper. 

‘‘ Read that.” 

It was a message from the operator in a small 
town out in Iowa, and read as follows: 

“ Look out for trouble. The ^ bad man ’ just 
boarded an excursion-train going east. Tom 
Purdy, conductor.” 

Harry gasped. “For heaven’s sake! Tom 
has finally got into the mess. Too bad.” 

“ Too bad nothing,” chuckled Jack. “ Tom 
will take care of himself. Hurry up with your 
work, and come over to the office. The boys are 
gathering around there like flies to keep track 


130 


PURDY AND THE BAD MAN 


of the game/' and he disappeared out of the 
door. 

Harry was wide enough awake now. Closing 
his books, he locked the door, and was soon 
standing by the open window of the telegraph- 
office with a dozen others, waiting eagerly for 
news. Inside of the room, by the clicking in- 
struments, sat Charlie Braun, the day operator, 
and near him, in an armchair, smoking calmly, 
sat Mr. Glasser, the superintendent of the divi- 
sion. 

'‘Anything doing yet, Charlie?” 

The young operator shook his head. “ We 
won't hear anything until they get to the next 
station.'' 

" I'm afraid for Tom,'' remarked one of the 
men, shaking his head doubtfully ; " he's so 
quick-tempered and foolhardy, he's liable to 
jump right on to that fellow and try to put him 
off the train.'' 

"Of course; why shouldn't he?'' observed 
another. 

" That sounds all right on paper, but I don't 
thiqk anybody here is itching to try it.'' 

" I know I'm not. I wouldn't be in Tom's 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


shoes for the best passenger run in the country,’^ 
said another listener. 

“ Now youVe struck it, Jim. That’s me,” 
and a general laugh followed. Then silence fell 
upon the little group. 

The superintendent arose from his chair, and 
paced the little room with slow, measured strides. 
The air of expectancy and uneasiness in the wait- 
ing crowd outside was reflected in his face. 

“What do you think, Mr. Glasser? Will 
Tom be equal to the emergency ? ” asked one of 
the men, respectfully. 

The superintendent shook his head. 

“ I don’t know. I’ll be glad when we hear 
something.” 

A moment later Charlie Braun sprang to an 
instrument, saying: 

“ Here it comes.” 

Dead silence reigned as the little bit of brass 
clicked out the dots and dashes. With pencil 
and pad Charlie translated the message into Eng- 
lish, and handed it to Mr. Glasser. 

The latter read it, and smiled. Then, noting 
the eager, waiting group, he read aloud: 

“ The bad man has gone. The last seen of 


132 


PURDY AND THE BAD MAN” 


him he was rolling down a twenty-foot bank, 
train going forty miles an hour/' 

Such a shout of cheers and laughter as that 
crowd sent up. 

“Bully for Tom; he's the stuff." 

“ Bring on your Western desperadoes." 

“ Wonder if that fellow wants any more free 
rides." 

“ Nothing like sand." 

“ I want to hear the particulars of that scrap," 
and so on. 

“You ought to give Tom a chromo for that, 
Mr. Glasser," said one of the men. 

“ He can have the best passenger run on my 
division," returned the chief, tersely. And the 
men cheered again. 

But let us take the wings of a bird and wit- 
ness the Waterloo of that Western terror for 
ourselves. 

A heavily loaded excursion-train had just 
pulled into a little station in Iowa. Groups of 
clean-looking country people, dressed in their 
Sunday best, were waiting to board the train. 
Among them was a burly, coarse-looking, flash- 
ily dressed man, who pushed the wondering peo- 
ple aside as if they had been cattle, and walked 

133 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


into the car next the smoker. Every seat was 
occupied. Two young farmers, with tanned, 
sunburnt faces, occupied one of the front seats, 
munching peanuts in a happy, contented way. 

The man’s eyes, roving about insolently, 
seemed to take note of their comfort. 

“ Here, get out of my seat ! ” he growled. 

The boys looked up, hesitated a moment, and 
then, in their ignorance, thinking it might be the 
president of the road, arose and vacated the seat. 

A few men with sortie spirit, sitting near by 
with their ladies, saw the insolence, and their 
eyes flashed, but not caring to get into trouble 
in the presence of a car full of women and chil- 
dren, remained quiet. The man dropped into 
the vacated seat, and sprawled back at his ease. 

The operator at the window had noted the oc- 
currence, and as the train pulled out, flashed the 
message over the wire that we read in Harry’s 
office. 

Meanwhile, Tom Purdy shouted All 
aboard,” and as the train moved slowly away, 
stepped into the baggage-car as usual, before 
going through the train to take up the tickets. 

He knew nothing of the bad man’s ” pres- 
ence, or that every operator along the line was 
134 


PURDY AND THE ‘‘BAD MAN’’ 


eagerly waiting to know the result. Passing 
through the smoker, he punched the tickets of 
all recent passengers, and entered the second 
car. 

Most of the passengers began fishing out their 
tickets, but the man who had driven the boys 
from their seats paid no attention to the con- 
ductor’s advent. 

Tom touched him on the shoulder. 

“ Ticket, please.” 

The man looked up with a surly growl. “ I 
hain’t got no ticket.” 

“ Then pay your fare.” Tom spoke courte- 
ously, but firmly. 

“ I don’t pay any fare. Git out of here, and 
quit bothering me about fare. I ride where I 
please.” 

He couldn’t have taken a surer method of 
arousing Purdy’s combativeness. 

His voice arose clear and sharp above the 
roar of the train, as he said: 

“ And I tell you, you can’t ride on this train 
unless you show a ticket or pass, or pay your 
fare. Do one or the other quick, or I’ll put you 
''Off the train,” and Tom made a motion toward 
the bell-rope. 


D5 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


Then the Western terror exploded with wrath. 

“ You put me off the train! You! Why, I’ll 
shoot the head off of you, you lantern- jawed 
milksop,” and he arose from his seat and 
reached back into his hip pocket. ‘‘ I guess you 
don’t know who you are talking to. I’ll 
show — ” 

But he got no farther. Quick as a flash Tom’s 
terrible iron arm, with its clenched fist, shot out 
and caught him on the jaw. 

Passengers who saw and heard the blow de- 
clared it sounded like a butcher felling a beef. 
He crashed through the window and would have 
gone off the train had not Purdy caught him by 
the legs and pulled him back. 

Without waiting an instant, Tom seized the 
dazed man by the collar and jerked him to his 
feet. Then running him out on the platform, 
he gave the would-be terror a shove and a kick, 
and sent him whirling down a twenty-foot em- 
bankment over which the train chanced to be 
passing. 

We will add that nothing more was ever heard 
of that particular “ bad man.” He had met his 
Waterloo. 

Soon as Tom could get his breath he went 
136 


PURDY AND THE ‘‘BAD MAN 


back into the car, and began collecting tickets 
as if nothing unusual had happened. But twenty 
men reached their hands to him, and cried out: 

“ Bravo, conductor ! That was worth the price 
of admission. If we had our way, we’d make 
you superintendent. That fellow has been an 
eyesore along this line for a year.” 

Tom blushed, and, like any brave man, got out 
of the atmosphere of praise soon as possible. 

The operators had flashed the news of the 
desperado’s boarding the train all along the line, 
and at whatever station they chanced to be, su- 
perintendents, train-despatchers, conductors, and 
other railroad men were gathered around the 
operator, waiting to hear the result. 

Train-despatcher Varley and two engineers 
were at a little way station when the news came 
of the “ bad man’s ” overthrow. 

The despatcher chuckled as he read it. 

“ Tom will never know that I put that job 
up on him. I found out on the quiet last night 
that this ‘ bad man ’ was going on that train, 
so I put Tom in charge of it on purpose to see 
if they couldn’t meet and get acquainted. I see 
they met.” 


r 


137 


CHAPTER XL 


A TUSSLE WITH TRAMPS 

Did you ever get any clue to the fellow that 
sniped those packages off your truck ? '' asked 
Jack Dodd, who had dropped into the office to 
gossip a moment while waiting for Number 5. 

Harry shook his head as he went on checking 
Number 5’s run. “ No, I haven’t the slightest 
idea, only that it was probably a tramp or sneak- 
thief. I may not lose another piece of freight 
that way in five years.” 

Jack opened his lips as if to speak; then, as if 
a new idea came into his head, closed them again, 
and remained silent. 

Just then Number 5 whistled, and he started 
for the baggage-room. Phil Haverly opened the 
side door as the train pulled in, and called out : 

“ Lots of berries this trip, Harry ! The agent 
instructed me to tell you to see that all perish- 
able stuff on this run should be delivered 

138 


A TUSSLE WITH TRAMPS 


promptly, to give the merchants a chance to dis- 
pose of it’ for supper.’’ 

“ Mr. Cummings told me about that. The 
drayman is right here, ready to whirl it up-town 
in a minute,” and Harry sprang upon the truck, 
and began cording up berry-crates. 

“ Well, well ! Good boy. I didn’t know you 
knew so much.” 

“ Oh, we have a shining light here for agent. 
He knows more in three weeks than I do in a 
• minute,” and George Parker swung up on the 
truck. 

“Hello, George! You go west?” 

“I’m thinking strongly of it, if the Old Man 
doesn’t telegraph me different,” and Parker 
stepped into the car and hung up his coat. 

“ I’ve got the lad’s first month’s pay here,” re- 
marked Haverly, as he unlocked the little mes- 
senger’s safe and took out a bundle of way-bills 
and money packages. 

“ Pshaw ! and I won’t be here to-night. * I 
suppose he’ll blow himself handsome,” returned 
George, as he lifted in his safe. 

“ I get a cigar out of it sure. Guess I better 
leave it in the safe until we get to the office, 
Harry; somebody might steal it” 

139 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


‘‘Yes, leave it in; I don’t want to lose that,” 
replied Harry, his eyes shining with joy as they 
lifted out the safe. 

“ Good-by, George. You’ll find everything 
there, except one box ‘ short ’ for Council 
Bluffs,” and Phil swung down out of the car. 

“ All right. Much obliged,” and Parker closed 
and fastened the door, and went to work check- 
ing his run. 

“ Harry, I’ve been thinking up a scheme,” 
said Haverly, as they trundled the run into the 
office. 

“ What’s in the wind now? ” 

“ Why, I was figuring if we could partition 
off a back room, and put in a couple of beds for 
the messengers, it would save them a night’s 
lodging on the lay-over here. I talked with Mr. 
Lambert about it, and he fell in with the idea 
right away. He said they had some extra beds 
stored away at St. Louis that we could just as 
well use as not. One reason he fell in with the 
scheme was that it would lessen any chance of 
robbery, with two or three men sleeping here 
every night. He told me to talk with you and 
see what you thought about it. I haven’t seen 
Cummings, but of course he’ll do whatever Lam- 
140 


A TUSSLE WITH TRAMPS 


bert says. What does your August Highness 
think of it?’’ 

Now the idea struck Harry very pleasantly. 
To know that two or three men were within call 
during the night transfer would be a great re- 
lief to him. The loss of one package showed 
the possibilities in that direction, and he hailed 
Haverly’s scheme with inward joy. He said: 

“ Wise lad! Your head is horizontal, and you 
get the thanks of the present incumbent of the 
office, for thinking up such a sagacious and 
economical scheme. If the other messengers 
concur in the plot, the deal goes through.” 

Haverly threw up his hands in apparent 
amazement. 

For the land sakes! You must have been to 
school. You said that just as easy; and I 
haven’t a thing to give you but an old brass 
trunk-check,” and he rummaged through pocket 
after pocket. 

Never mind. Just hand me my way-bills, 
including my pay-envelope, and that will be sat- 
isfactory.” 

Ah, yes ; I might have known it was your 
pay-envelope that caused that flow of language. 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


Here, take it before you get off anything more,” 
and Phil handed out the run. 

Harry gazed lovingly at the long brown en- 
velope, then, cutting off the end, sifted out a 
package of greenbacks. These he counted care- 
fully, and said : 

“ Just seventy-five dollars. Pll lock this up 
quick, before somebody gets it. It’s too late to 
put it in the bank.” 

‘‘ You act as if that was the first money you 
ever had,” remarked Haverly, as he hung up 
his coat and prepared to call the freight. 

Don’t tell anybody, but it comes mighty 
near it,” replied Harry, with a laugh, as he 
locked it in the safe. 

‘‘ Going to have a time with it? ” asked Phil, 
absently. 

“ Yes, sir-e-e. I’m going to have the time of 
my life in a few months from now, if all goes 
well,” replied Harry, as he sorted over his way- 
bills. 

“How’s that?” 

“ Going to pay off the mortgage on our 
home.” 

“ Pshaw ! Can you save anything on seventy- 
five dollars?” 


142 


A TUSSLE WITH TRAMPS 


“ Can I ? If I don’t save forty dollars every 
month, you can sell me for a yellow pump- 
kin.” 

That’s so. It doesn’t cost as much to live 
here as it does in Chicago.” 

“ Of course I won’t buy any forty-dollar suits 
of clothes, or five-dollar theatre tickets.” 

“ And your liquor and cigar bill won’t be very 
large, I suppose.” 

“No; and I hope they will always stay just 
as small as they are now,” replied Harry, vig- 
orously. 

“ That’s right, son. Be virtuous and you will 
be happy.” 

“ I don’t know how virtuous or happy I’ll be, 
but I don’t see any reason for using liquor or 
tobacco,” said Harry, energetically. 

“I don’t, either; nor anybody else. It’s just 
the natural foolishness of a man. He is full 
of it; born in him, I guess. Always wanting 
to do something that he hadn’t ought to; keep- 
ing his left eye on the penitentiary to see that 
he don’t go too far. Some of ’em even forget 
that,” admitted Haverly, frankly. 

Harry looked up in surprise at this honest out- 
burst from the jolly, good-natured messenger. 

143 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


“If men know all these things, why don’t they 
let them alone ? ” 

“Why don’t they? Just as I told you; from 
natural perversity and lack of sand. Why 
doesn’t the morphine-fiend quit the vile drug 
that’s killing him ? Because he can’t, in nine 
cases out of ten. He hasn’t the stamina. I tell 
you, boy; take it up one side and down the 
other, a man is mighty small potatoes, and few 
in the hill. You’ll find it out as you grow older, 
and see more of the animal.” 

“ I’ve seen some pretty small specimens al- 
ready, or rather felt them,” said Harry, his mind 
reverting to the stolen packages. 

“ Oh, you haven’t scratched through the veneer 
yet. Wait till you get down among the old 
sores,” said Haverly, with a sarcastic laugh. 

“ Thank you ; I don’t believe I want to,” re- 
turned Harry, quietly. “ I’d rather think of men 
as being honest and brave, with only a few of the 
weak, wicked ones mixed in. My father was a 
brave, honest soldier, who would scorn to do a 
mean act, and I prefer to think of m.en as being 
like him.” 

“ Well, it’s better that way if you can do it,” 
replied Phil, as he threw the last package from the 
144 


A TUSSLE WITH TRAMPS 


truck. “ Living in a big city has turned my stom- 
ach. Lve seen enough meanness and cussedness 
in the last ten years to turn anybody’s stomach. 
A big city is the curse of the world.” 

“ You must have been hunting for wicked- 
ness,” said Harry, shrewdly. 

“ You don’t have to hunt for it in there; it’s 
everywhere. Why, there has been two big five- 
thousand-dollar robberies right in the check-pen 
of the general office since I’ve been there. High 
reckless living and gambling were to blame for it. 
Some of the men squandered their money fool- 
ishly, and then tried to steal it back from the ex- 
press company. Part of them are serving time 
to-day for it, and the rest are wandering in 
foreign lands.” 

“ They couldn’t have had very good bringing 
up,” remarked Harry. 

‘‘ Oh, they don’t bring up boys in the city. 
Everybody is too busy. Just let them come up 
alone. If they pan out well, all right; if they 
don’t, why — well, they don’t, that’s all there is 
to it. But, excuse me. I’m tired out. I had 
seventeen million cases of berries, more or less, to 
distribute along the line to-day, and it was pretty 


145 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


strenuous work. Fll just go outside and take a 
smoke.” 

‘‘ So you’re one of the weak ones ? ” 

“ Yes, Fm a slave of Lord Nicotine,” admitted 
Haverly, as he lighted a cigar and carried a chair 
outside, where he tipped back against the build- 
ing with a sigh of content. 

These berries Fd better send north on the 
‘ Flying Dutchman,’ hadn’t I ? ” said Harry, com- 
ing outside. 

Yes; they’ll make better time than they will 
on Number 3.” 

“ I suppose we’ll have to see the rest of the 
boys about that sleeping arrangement.” 

Oh, I presume so ; but they’ll fall in with it. 
Anything to save a quarter,” returned Phil, in an 
off-hand way, as he flicked the ashes from his 
cigar. 

As the messengers came in from their runs, one 
by one, Harry unfolded the “ parlor bedroom ” 
idea. 

All were pleased with it. Just the ticket,” 
said George Parker. “ We’ll be handier to call 
on the night runs, and you can let me sleep five 
minutes longer.” 

Big Sam Andrews, who was an old war veteran 
146 


A TUSSLE WITH TRAMPS 


and had run messenger for the company before 
the war, said : 

“ It suits me ; but if they send those beds from 
St. Louis, ril bet a month’s pay that I slept on 
them before the war — twenty years ago.” 

“ Oh, well,” remarked Ben Brown, “ your 
sleeping on them twenty years ago wouldn’t 
necessarily render them unfit for use now. They 
have probably been aired out and fumigated long 
ago.” 

Andrews glared at him a moment over his 
spectacles and then burst into a laugh. 

“ No ; but there’ll be enough live stock in them 
to start a ranch.” 

Instruct the agent at St. Louis to sell off the 
live stock before he ships them.” 

“ It’ll take ten gallons of benzine to put them 
in any kind of shape,” continued Andrews; “ but 
I can stand it if the rest can.” 

Accordingly, Harry wrote Mr. Lambert, the 
superintendent, to have the beds shipped, and in 
about two weeks they arrived. 

In the interval, Harry had put a carpenter to 
work partitioning off a room large enough for 
two beds, so when the old relics arrived every- 
thing was in readiness to receive them. 

147 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 

It chanced that Sam Andrews was in the office 
when the beds came in on Ben Brown’s run. 

The moment the former saw them he cried 
out : 

“ Same old parties. I knew it. Feel as if I 
had met a couple of old-time friends.” 

“ If I were you, I wouldn’t shake hands with 
them until after they had taken a benzine bath,” 
remarked Ben. 

“ How’s the benzine, Harry ? Got it good and 
hot ? ” called Andrews. 

“Yes, sir; everything is ready in the back 
lot,” replied Harry, demurely. 

“ Then sentence of death is pronounced. Don’t 
let me stay the execution. Throw a rope over the 
post and lead them to the slaughter,” said An- 
drews, gravely. 

Before night, by the united efforts of Harry 
and the messengers, the beds were installed in the 
little room. Bedclothes were provided, and that 
night the messengers slept in the office, to Harry’s 
great relief. 

Two nights later, when he checked up his 
night run going east, two packages were found 
“ short.” Of course, he couldn’t tell whether 
they were overlooked in the car or not until the 
148 


A TUSSLE WITH TRAMPS 

messenger, Gilmore, returned next night from 
the north. He waited with what patience he 
could, without mentioning the shortage to any- 
body, until the messenger returned, and then in- 
quired anxiously if he had been “ over ” the two 
parcels. 

“No,” Gilmore replied, in surprise; “I put 
everything out that belonged here. I had your 
run all by itself, so I know.” 

“ Then they were stolen.” 

“ It beats all. Say, boy, you want to stop 
that, or this office will get a bad name.” 

“ I suppose so, but I can’t help it,” replied 
Harry, in a discouraged way, as he started for 
the office. He kept his eye on the load of freight 
all the way, and when he checked up he felt re- 
lieved to find that it was all there. 

His first thought was to write Mr. Cummings 
of the theft, but to his joy, the route agent 
came out on the next train. 

“Well, Harry, how are things going?” he 
asked, as he shook hands. 

“ They were going all right until night before 
last, when I had a couple more packages stolen 
off the truck.” 


149 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


You don’t say. That’s bad. Must be a 
regular gang of thieves in these yards.” 

“ It looks that way. The boys thought the 
other two pieces were taken by passing tramps, 
but this doesn’t seem to bear out that theory.” 

“ No, it looks like an organized gang. And 
we haven’t a detective we can spare here now,” 
mused Mr. Cummings. 

“ It will make my salary look sick, if this 
thing keeps up,” said Harry, disconsolately. 

“Yes, we’ve got to figure out some way to 
catch these fellows, soon as we can, but just at 
present you will have to keep your eyes open. 
We will help you soon as possible. Just now, 
all of our available men are working in the 
east. One thing, these fellows haven’t tried to 
take any money ; that’s one consolation. They’re 
evidently just small sneak-thieves, from their 
actions.” 

“ But they may try to knock me on the head 
and take the money run, most any old time,” said 
Harry, smiling faintly. 

“ They may, but I rather think not from pres- 
ent appearances. They act more like petty sneak- 
thieves. However, keep your eyes open, your 


A TUSSLE WITH TRAMPS 


wits about you, and be prepared. Do you carry 
a revolver ? ’’ 

“ No, sir. I haven’t any.” 

‘M’ll have them send you one from the gen- 
eral office. We don’t furnish them, as a rule, 
but I’ll see that you have one.” 

Although he meant kindly, it was small com- 
fort that Harry received from the route agent’s 
visit. To feel that he was surrounded by thieves 
and robbers was not a pleasant thought. No 
use to talk to the messengers. They would just 
jolly and poke fun at him. They were not a 
very sympathizing class, as a rule. 

The only solace Harry could find was a con- 
fidential talk with his friend Jack Dodd. He 
told, him his troubles without reserve. 

Jack gave a long, low whistle. ‘ ‘‘ At it again, 
eh? That looks bad. You see they didn’t wait 
five years before trying it again.” 

No, and I’m all at sea. I don’t know what 
to do, or what to think about it. Mr. Cum- 
mings said they didn’t have any detectives that 
they could spare just now to look into the mat- 
ter.” 

Once more Jack looked as if he were about to 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


make a suggestion, but thought better of it, and 
remained silent. Finally he said : 

“ Well, I would do what Mr. Cummings sug- 
gested; keep your eyes open and watch every- 
thing closely, ni help you all I can,” and with 
that Jack turned to his work, and Harry re- 
turned to the office, feeling anything but satis- 
fied with the outlook. 

The following evening he went down into the 
railroad yards to see one of the engineers in 
regard to an express package. The yards were 
large, with dozens of tracks and scores of 
switches. Strings of freight-cars, every size, 
color, and description, representing nearly every 
railroad in the country, were standing at rest, 
or being switched here and there by the busy, 
noisy switch-engines, eventually taking their 
places in a freight-train, which a little later in 
the evening was coupled on to by a big “ ten 
wheeler ” that coughed and puffed and panted 
as it noisily dragged its load of merchandise 
out of the yard and away over the country to 
the north, west, south, or east. The yards were 
a paradise for tramps. Scores of empty box 
cars afforded them a convenient temporary ref- 
uge, from which they sallied forth in pairs and 

152- 


A TUSSLE WITH TRAMPS 

groups to boil their evening coffee over a little 
open fire and devour the food furnished by the 
housewives of the town. Every freight-train 
brought in or carried out a greater or less num- 
ber of these roving gentry, in spite of the efforts 
of the train-crew. 

Riding on top of the cars, stowed away in emp- 
ties, or clinging to the trucks and cross-beams 
beneath, they rode everywhere. The freight- 
trains could no more get free from them than 
a brewery could shake off the horde of rats that 
fatten upon its premises. 

Of course this nomadic horde was made up of 
every class of men, from the unfortunate me- 
chanic seeking work in far-away lands to the pro- 
fessional tramp and hardened criminal preying 
upon society. 

Although people had been held up and robbed 
at various times in the yards, Harry thought 
nothing of danger. He had been around the 
cars and tracks, and knew the location of every 
switch and cross-track. He was well down in 
the yards when a tramp suddenly dropped out 
of an empty and confronted him. 

'' What time is it, boss ? ” 

I don’t know ; I’m in a hurry,” returned 
IS3 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


Harry, edging away, for he didn’t like the fel- 
low’s looks and actions. 

Oh, hold on ! Give me ten cents to get some 
bread. I ain’t had any supper,” and he saun- 
tered insolently toward Harry. 

“ Get out of here or I’ll call the police,” and 
the young expressman backed away still farther. 

The tramp laughed. “ You wouldn’t call the 
police; they’re way up to the depot.” 

Harry saw that the fellow meant robbery, and, 
suddenly turning, he dashed down the yards. 
But alas for his hopes! At the end of the car 
he ran straight into the arms of the tramp’s 
partner. The boy just had time to shout the 
one word, ‘‘ Help,” when the tramp’s arm was 
around his neck in true garroting style, his 
breath was choked off, and the fellow was going 
through his pockets with the swiftness of long 
practice. 

Doubled backy^^ard until it seemed that his 
spine must break, with that merciless arm chok- 
ing the life out of him, Harry’s senses grew 
numb, sparks and stars danced before his closed 
eyes, and, when the thug was through rifling 
him, he dropped to the ground senseless and ap- 
parently dead. 


154 



“DOUBLED BACKWARD UNTIL IT SEEMED THAT HIS SPINE 
MUST BREAK, . . . HARRY’S SENSES GREW NUMB.” 





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W>\A -i 


A TUSSLE WITH TRAMPS 


The dastardly deed was done between two 
strings of freight-cars. As the tramp straight- 
ened up from his victim, there was the sound of 
hurried footsteps on the other side of the car. 
His partner held up a warning finger and whis- 
pered : 

“ Sh — stand still.'' 

The footsteps went past. 

Now duck." 

But ere they had taken a dozen steps, the 
person running down the other side suddenly 
stopped and dodged under the car, and the thugs 
found themselves confronted in that narrow lane 
by a man with a lantern. 

The tramp who had first accosted Harry ut- 
tered a curse, and aimed a blow at the man’s 
head. The blow was warded, and the next in- 
stant the thug received a crushing blow that 
hurled him flat upon his back, and Tom Purdy 
turned his attention to the other one. 

That worthy, however, did not relish the treat- 
ment his partner had received, and turned to 
flee only to be met by one of Purdy’s brakemen, 
who knocked him against the side of the car, 
took him by the throat and gave him a thorough 
drubbing. 

IS5 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


“ What have they been doing, A1 ? What 
was that call for help we heard?” cried Tom, 
as he jerked the first tramp on his legs and 
marched him down to where the brakeman was 
tattooing the other one’s face with his brawny 
fists. 

“ Killing somebody, I guess. I stumbled over 
a body down here,” and the brakeman, giving 
the thug a final smash on the nose that flattened 
that organ considerably and brought , the blood 
in a stream, desisted from his pastime, and turned 
to his conductor. 

Purdy flashed his lantern around, and saw a 
dark object lying on the cinders. 

See who it is, Al, and I’ll watch these fel- 
lows.” 

The brakeman, Al Hunter, swung down his 
lantern and scanned the features of the prostrate 
form. He looked up in astonishment. 

“ Tom, I believe it’s Harry Baker.” 

“Harry Baker! Impossible! Is he alive?” 
burst from Purdy. 

“ His heart beats ; but it’s Harry Baker sure 
enough.” 

“ Here, hold these fellows and let me see,” 


A TUSSLE WITH TRAMPS 


said Purdy, impatiently. ‘‘ If it’s Harry, I’ll 
break both of their heads.” 

He knelt down with his lantern by the pros- 
trate boy, and scanned his features anxiously. 

“ That’s who it is ; but what is he doing down 
in the yards, and how bad is he hurt? They’ve 
probably sandbagged him.” He arose to his 
feet, and, drawing a revolver from his hip pocket, 
placed it in Hunter’s hand with the words: 

“If one of those fellows makes a move, kill 
him where he stands.” 

“ We didn’t hurt him, boss ; he fell off a box 
car,” ventured one of the tramps, with an un- 
easy look. 

“ You shut up! ” snapped Purdy. “ We’ll let 
him tell his own story, if he ever recovers his 
senses.” 

He knelt again by Harry’s side, and raised 
him gently to a sitting posture. The latter 
opened his eyes in a dazed way. 

“Is that you, Tom? What’s the matter?” 

“ That’s what we’re trying to find out. We 
heard you holler for help, and caught these two 
tramps in here. They claim you fell off of a 
box car, but I believe they’re lying. How is 
it?” 


157 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


At mention of the word “ tramp/’ Harry’s 
faculties came back in a flash. 

“ Oh, I remember now. I was coming down 
through the yard when these fellows jumped out 
of a box car, and held me up. That smallest 
one did the work. He has my watch and what 
money I had with me. He nearly broke my 
neck, too.” 

Tom straightened up. 

“ Are you strong enough to sit there and hold 
my lantern ? ” 

“ Oh, yes. I think I’ll be all right in a min- 
ute.” 

“ Is the gun cocked, A1 ? ” 

‘‘ Sure thing,” responded Hunter, grimly. 

“ Give it to the first one that makes a break, 
while I go through this one, for Harry’s plun- 
der.” 

Tom was so thoroughly enraged by their das- 
tardly work that he was not very gentle, and 
when he got through with that thug, the latter 
had a fair idea of what it was to go through a 
corn-sheller. 

“ Watch, knife, bunch of keys, and three- 
fifty. Is that all you had, Harry?” 


A TUSSLE WITH TRAMPS 


“ I think that was all/’ responded Harry, as he 
slowly got upon his feet. 

Tom handed him his recovered property. 
“Do you feel strong enough to walk?” 

“ Yes, I’m beginning to feel natural again.” 

The former took the revolver from the brake- 
man’s hands, and, turning to the captured thugs, 
said : 

“ I ought to mash you fellows’ heads right 
here; but I’ll let the law deal with you. March 
ahead, and the first one that makes a move to 
run or dodge gets his medicine. Go on, now,” 
and the procession started toward the depot, 
Purdy directly behind the prisoners, lantern in 
one hand and revolver in the other, while Harry 
and Hunter brought up the rear. 

They had gone perhaps a third of the distance, 
when Tom suddenly stumbled over something, 
and in throwing out his hand to save himself 
dropped the revolver. 

The larger tramp turned his head far enough 
to see what had happened, and, uttering the one 
word, “ Duck,” they both fled away in the dark- 
ness. 

Tom muttered an exclamation of disgust as 
he caught himself, and, snatching up the re- 
159 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


volver, darted after them. But darkness fa- 
vored the escaping thugs, and they soon van- 
ished in the gloom. 

Harry, of course, could not run, and Hunter 
remained with him. When they reached the 
end of the string of cars near the depot, they 
found Purdy waiting for them, panting and dis- 
gusted. 

“Nice trick for me to do, wasn’t it?” he 
fumed. 

“ Never mind, Tom. I’m glad enough to get 
out of it alive; let them go,” replied Harry, 
thankfully. 

“ I know, but I would have liked to jailed those 
two fellows,” said Tom, regretfully, as they 
started for the express office. 

“ One thing sure, they won’t let any grass 
grow under their feet, getting out of this yard,” 
remarked Hunter, as he glanced back in the 
darkness. 

Harry had left George Parker and Ben Brown 
in charge of the office, and they were tipped 
back comfortably, smoking and chatting in the 
warm summer air. 

“ Good evening. We brought back your 
agent,” said Tom, as they walked into the office. 
i6o 


A TUSSLE WITH TRAMPS 


‘‘ Much obliged. Take a chair/’ responded 
George Parker, as he relighted his pipe. 

“You notice that we brought him back alive, 
too,” continued Tom. 

“Better yet; take two chairs,” said Ben, po- 
litely. 

“You might have kept him longer; we 
haven’t taken in a cent,” Parker observed. 

“ I’m afraid we kept him a little too long,” 
replied Tom. “ Better lie down awhile, Harry, 
and rest up for the night trains.” 

“Why, what’s the matter?” inquired Parker, 
who noticed for the first time how pale and 
weak Harry looked. “ He looks as if he had 
been run through a threshing-machine.” 

“ About the same thing,” responded Tom, 
quietly ; “ he’s been garroted by a couple of 
tramps.” 

“Is that so?” and both messengers were on 
their feet in a moment. 

“ Yes, I was held up proper, and I don’t want 
any more of it if I can get excused. I can thank 
Tom and A1 for getting me out of it.” 

“ I don’t blame you. I was held up just once, 
and I am free to say that I don’t hanker for any 
more of that kind of pie,” said Ben, feelingly. 

i6i 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


‘‘ Somehow, when they hold a fellow up, those 
gentry fail to have the delicacy of touch that 
characterizes the pickpocket/’ 

‘‘ The best of it was, Tom held up the tramps 
after they held up Harry, and got back every- 
thing they took from him,” grimied A1 Hunter. 

“ Sorry, now, I didn’t break their heads as I 
promised,” regretted Tom. 

“ Never mind. You put up a good imitation 
on one of them, and I massaged the other, so 
he won’t have any trouble in identifying himself 
for some time,” remarked Hunter, dryly. 

Why didn’t you bring them along? ” queried 
Parker. 

We tried to. We put them on the head end, 
but a coupling broke and they had too much 
steam for us,” replied the brakeman, as he arose 
to go. 

“ Well, Harry, I hope you won’t be any the 
worse for your scrimmage with those fellows,” 
said Tom, as he arose and picked up his lantern. 

“ Thank you, Tom. I think I’ll be all right. 
And I’ll be under eternal obligations to you and 
A1 for your timely assistance,” replied Harry, 
gratefully. 

“ Don’t mention it. We were only too glad 
162 


A TUSSLE WITH TRAMPS 


to get there on time/' said Purdy, heartily. 

Good night, and don't go down through the 
yards any more after dark." 

“ Good night, Tom. I won't forget." 

“Is that the shoulder hitter?" inquired Ben 
Brown. 

“ That's the man," replied Harry, as he 
watched the retreating figure, affectionately. 
“ He knocked one of those tramps down so 
hard he had to help him up." 

“ He looks as if he might have a nasty fist," 
observed Parker. 

“ His brakeman don't look much like a spring 
chicken, either." 

“If you had seen that other tramp after he 
got through with him, you wouldn’t think so. 
He looked as if he had been run through a 
sausage-machine," replied Harry, adding, “ and 
here’s where these beds come in." 

“ Yes. Go in and rest after your frolic. Ben 
and I’ll keep house.” 


CHAPTER XIL 


CHASING A FORGER 

Harry went home after the night’s transfer, 
and when he awoke, late in the morning, he felt 
stiff and sore from the effects of his frolic. 
However, he felt thankful that it was no worse, 
and quickly dressing, went down to breakfast. 

His mother had thoughtfully kept his break- 
fast warm, and placed it on the table. He walked 
in rather a disjointed way, and Phil’s sharp 
eyes detected at once that something was wrong. 

“ What makes you so lame ? ” he inquired. 

“ Oh, I was indulging in some athletic exer- 
cises last evening,” Harry replied, as he seated 
himself at the table. 

^'What’s atlety exincises?” queried Jimmy, 
coming to his side. 

“ Huh ! I know,” boasted Phil. ‘‘ It’s skin- 
ning the cat, and hanging by your toes, and turn- 
ing over a pole, and a lot of things like that. I 
can do nearly all of them.” 

164 


CHASING A FORGER 


“ Yes, and you can tear your pants, too,’' in- 
terrupted his mother, as she poured Harry’s 
coffee. 

“ Huh ! I just teared a little bit of a hole in 
mine, and Billy Sparks ripped his’n clear down 
the leg, from there to there,” and Phil marked 
the extent of the tear. 

“ You should be careful in your play, and 
watch what you are doing. But then, boys are 
a good deal harder on their clothes than girls, 
anyhow. Do you want another egg, Harry ? ” 
No, thanks, mother. This is plenty,” re- 
plied Harry, sipping his coffee. 

“ Girls hadn’t ought to tear their clothes like 
boys,” persisted Phil. ‘‘ They don’t do anything 
but play with their doll/ and chew gum. They 
don’t climb trees and throw stones, and rassel 
and fight like boys.” 

“ I don’t care if they don’t ; they’re just as 
smart as boys, and Pd have you know it, Mr. 
Phil Baker,” retorted Mary, with a spirited flash. 

“ There, there, children ; never mind,” said 
Mrs. Baker, gently, but firmly. “ Mary, you 
see if the dish-water is ready, and Phil, bring 
in your wood before you go to school. What 
makes you lame, Harry ? ” 

165 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


“ Why, I went down in the yards night 
about dark to see a man about an express pc.A- 
age, and a couple of tramps held me up.’^ 

‘‘ Held you up! For the land sakes! I don’t 
like that,” and his mother gazed at him with 
affectionate concern. 

“ What did they want to hold you up for ? 
Couldn’t you stand alone? ” asked Jimmy. 

“ I couldn’t after they got through with me,” 
replied Harry, grimly. 

What did they do? rob you?” asked Mrs. 
Baker, anxiously. 

Yes. They took everything I had. Watch, 
money, keys, and everything.” 

“ Why didn’t they take your watch-chain ? ” 
asked Jimmy, pointing to it. 

They did, but I got everything back again. 
I just had time to call for help once when they 
choked off my wind. As luck would have it, 
Tom Purdy and one of his brakemen happened 
to be coming along through the yards just then, 
and they heard me. They caught those tramps 
and gave them a good thrashing, and got all 
my things back. Mighty lucky thing for me,” 
said Harry, thankfully. 

‘‘ I think Mr. Purdy is an awful good man,” 

i66 


CHASING A FORGER 


said Mary, warmly ; “ he stopped nearly a half 
an hour one day last winter and helped Sarah 
Densmore and me fix our sled.” 

He has been a good friend of mine, I know,” 
said Har^-y, as he arose from the table. 

“ You must be more careful, and not go down 
in the yards after dark. I didn’t know it was 
so dangerous as that,” and Mrs. Baker looked 
her maternal anxiety. 

“ Oh, it isn’t dangerous. Probably wouldn’t 
happen again in ten years. I just happened to 
catch the right kind of tramps in the right kind 
of a spot. I’ll see that it doesn’t happen again,” 
and Harry picked up his hat. 

Probably they were some of the men that 
stole your express stuff.” 

“ Maybe they were. We tried to take them to 
jail, but they got away from us in the dark,” 
and Harry started for the door. 

“ Mary, where is Alice ? ” inquired Mrs. 
Baker. 

“ She is over playing with Stubby Hernbig.” 

“ Well, you go and call her. I want her to 
go up-town and get me some thread before she 
goes to school. She will have time. Hurry up, 
and don’t stop to play on the way,” and as Mary 
167 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


departed on her errand Harry started for the 
office. 

How do you feel after your frolic ? ” que- 
ried Gus Thompson, who had come in during the 
night. 

“ Feel as if I didn’t yearn for any more of 
it right away,” replied Harry, as he* unlocked 
the safe to get out the run for Number 6. 

“ I guess the tramps don’t, either, from what 
the boys told me,” grinned Thompson. 

‘‘No, I think not. Tom and A1 gave them 
about the worst shaking up they ever had. Hello, 
Jack! Come in and look out ; you can see more.” 

“ Thought I’d come around and see if you 
were alive yet,” smiled Jack Dodd. 

“ Oh, yes. I’m chipper as a skinned eel.” 

“ Just about, I guess. Maybe they’re the fel- 
lows that stole your express packages.” 

“ I didn’t think of that ; but they would do it 
in a minute if they had the chance,” said Harry, 
thoughtfully. 

“ Did you ever get any clue to those fellows 
that pinched your stuff?” inquired Thompson. 

“Not a clue. The fellow that Tom Purdy 
chased is the only one that’s ever been seen, and 
Tom only got a rear view of him in the dark.” 

1 68 


CHASING A FORGER 


“Excuse me; there’s Number 6’s melodious 
voice,” and Jack vanished. 

Along in the afternoon, while Harry was 
working in the office, a well-dressed stranger 
entered and presented an express money order 
to be cashed. These express orders were printed 
in three different forms, one of which did not 
require identification. The order presented by 
the stranger was of the latter form, and was 
made out to the limit, fifty dollars. It was from 
some obscure little town out in Iowa, and was 
apparently signed by the agent. Harry exam- 
ined it carefully, but as it was properly made out 
and he was accustomed to cashing them every 
day, he cashed it, and the man, thanking him 
cordially, went on his way rejoicing, while 
Harry charged the amount to the company, and 
placed the order in his safe to be remitted with 
his next statement. 

That night, Sam Andrews came in on Num- 
ber 2 from the west. They had unloaded the 
run and checked it, and were chatting a few mo- 
ments over express matters, as was customary 
with the incoming messenger, when Andrews 
suddenly said: 

‘‘By the way, Ranslow (the Iowa superin- 
169 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


tendent) told me to tell you to look out for a 
man who is cashing n^oney orders along the 
line. They are made out from Hernville, Iowa. 
This fellow, who is some relative of the agent, 
got hold of a book of blank orders, filled every 
one of them out on the ‘ no identification ’ plan, 
and is out on the road cashing them. They are 
forged, and if he shows up here and tries to have 
any cashed, you are to arrest him, and notify 
Ranslow. But of course the critter may skip 
this town, it being a division point.'' 

For some reason, the instant Andrews men- 
tioned money orders a chill came over Harry’s 
spirits, which deepened as the former proceeded, 
and when he had concluded, the young express- 
man leaped from his chair. 

“Why, what’s the matter?" said Andrews, 
in astonishment. 

“ Oh, nothing, only I cashed one for fifty dol- 
lars last evening," and Harry sank into his chair 
again. 

“ You did ? ” and the big messenger stared 
down at Harry. 

The latter remained silent and thoughtful for a 
moment, and then said: 

“ The best thing I can do is to send a tele- 


CHASING A FORGER 


gram to Ranslow, telling him what I have done; 
that will help locate the direction the fellow has 
taken.” 

Andrews nodded his head approvingly. 

“ Good idea. I’d send it at once.” 

Accordingly, Harry went to the telegraph- 
office and sent a telegram apprising the super- 
intendent of what he had done. In half an hour 
he received a reply, stating that a detective would 
be there in the morning on Number 6, and to 
give him any assistance possible in catching the 
forger; if necessary, to leave the office in charge 
of a messenger and go with the detective. 

Sam Andrews had not gone to bed when the 
answer came. 

“ Jackman comes in in the morning. He can 
keep house if you have to leave. It’ll be his last 
run out,” he suggested. 

“ I’ll know better what to do after the detec- 
tive comes. I have no idea which way the fellow 
went, but if he locates him, he may want me to 
go along and identify him.” 

“ Could you do it ? ” 

Harry nodded. ‘‘ Yes, I’d know him in a 
second. A smooth-faced young fellow. He 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


didn’t look more than twenty-two; sort of a 
washed-out-calico complexion.” 

“ He could have gone in any one of four di^ 
rections, so I guess I’ll go to bed, and let him 
‘ went,’ ” remarked Andrews, with a yawn. 

“ I may have to ‘ let him went,’ too, but I 
hope they catch him. It isn’t a bit funny to 
have that kind of gentry around. I don’t sup- 
pose I’ll have to stand the fifty dollars, as the 
order is on the ‘ no identification ’ plan ; but 
somebody will have to stand it, if they don’t 
catch him. Why can’t people work for a living 
honestly?” and Harry looked his disgust. 

The big messenger laughed. 

Because they are too lazy; that’s why,” and 
he disappeared in the little bedroom. 

Harry did the rest of his work that night in 
no very pleasant frame of mind. To think that 
he had been the victim of a swindler was very 
aggravating.. However, it could not be helped 
now. All he could do was to await the arrival 
of the detective. He did not sleep very soundly 
from thinking over the matter, and the next 
morning breathed a sigh of relief when Number 
6 whistled. The messenger Jackman opened the 
side door, and beside him stood a short, stocky, 
172 


CHASING A FORGER 


sharp-eyed man of thirty-five, whom the messen- 
ger introduced as Mr. Vincent, the detective who 
was looking for the express order forger. The 
officer said, briskly: 

“ Have you a man to leave in charge of the 
office?’’ 

‘‘ Yes, sir. I’ll leave Mr. Jackman. Have 
you located the party ? ” 

“ Yes, he went to Fairview, and will drive 
across the country to catch a train on the 
T. M. & B. If we hustle, we may overtake him. 
We must follow on this train.” 

They hurried the run to the office; checked 
it, and placed Jackman in charge. 

‘‘ How long does the train lay here? ” 

“ Ten minutes,” replied Harry, who was dart- 
ing here and there, getting ready for the hurried 
trip. 

‘‘ Think you can hit the side of a barn with 
that gun of yours?” asked Sam Andrews, who 
was an old Civil War veteran, and to whom, 
therefore, no kind of artillery possessed any 
terrors. 

“ I don’t know. I hope I won’t have to 
try.” 

“ There probably won’t be any need for it, 
173 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


but just take it as a precautionary measure/’ 
said Mr. Vincent, quietly. 

Harry hastily scribbled a note to his mother, 
telling her where he was going and bidding her 
not to worry. 

Then the conductor shouted, “ All aboard,” 
and they were soon flying on their way. It was 
a short ride and soon over. As they drew near 
the little station, Mr. Vincent said : 

“ We will go direct to the livery-barn. If 
that fellow drove across the country, of course 
he got a rig.” 

“ Would they let a stranger have a rig? ” 

“ Oh, they could send a boy i:o drive him, for 
that matter. Then, they would have to send 
somebody along to bring the rig back, anyhow.” 

“That’s so; I didn’t think of that.” 

By this time the train had stopped at the little 
village of Fairview, and they alighted. 

The usual half-dozen idlers were loitering 
about, hands in pockets, 'with a curious stare for 
every stranger. No press of business cares an- 
noyed these loafers. Their only concern was to 
know where their next meal was coming from. 

“ Is there more than one livery-stable in 
town ? ” Mr. Vincent inquired of one of them. 
174 


CHASING A FORGER 


“ Nope/' and the party evinced some little in- 
terest at being questioned and changed his to- 
bacco quid to the other cheek. 

“Can you direct us to it?” 

“ You go a block straight ahead, and then 
turn to the left. It’s in the middle of the next 
block, on this side of the street. The first build- 
ing beyond the yeller house with the roses in the 
front yard. Was you wantin’ a rig?” curi- 
ously. 

“ I don’t know yet,” and Mr. Vincent and 
Harry started briskly in the direction indi- 
cated. 

“ Bill, I’ll bet them’s the fellers that’s lookin’ 
for somebody. I heard something last night 
about a feller cornin’ here to-day. Wonder who 
they’re after? ” 

“ I dunno. Probably after a burglar or some- 
thing,” and “ Bill ” lounged up to discuss the 
unusual event. 

The detective and Harry walked into the liv- 
ery-barn and accosted the proprietor, who was 
engaged in the laudable employment of sweep- 
ing the floor of his barn with an old broom. 

“ Has any stranger been here after a rig to- 
day?” the detective inquired. 

HS 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


The liveryman paused in his work and looked 
up. 

^‘Yes. Why?^’ 

'' What kind of a looking fellow was he ? ” 

‘‘ Twa’n’t a ‘ he; ’ it was a ‘ she/ returned 
the horseman, calmly. 

Mr. Vincent’s countenance expressed the dis- 
appointment that he felt. 

“ Has no man been here after a rig? ” 

“ Why, yes. Jed Hardin got a rig to drive 
out to the farm this morning, an’ le’s see. Come 
to think, a travellin’ man wanted to be driv over 
to Conly, to ketch a train on the T. M. & B. We 
wa’n’t very busy just now, so I sent my young- 
est boy, Arthur, over with him. But they hain’t 
been no strangers, what you can call strangers, 
here after a rig.” 

The detective’s eyes snapped, and he said: 

“ What kind of a looking fellow was this 
travelling man ? ” 

“ Why, he was a smallish, young-lookin’ fel- 
ler; didn’t look more’n twenty-two; light com- 
plected; had on a gray suit an’ a straw hat. 
Think he said he travelled for a grocery firm 
back East somewheres. I’ve forgotten exactly, 
but the boy’ll tell you all about it when he gits 
176 


CHASING A FORGER 


back. I never was much of a hand to remember 
such things, so I don’t bother my mind about it. 
It’s my business to let out rigs.” 

Mr. Vincent turned quickly to Harry: 

“ That’s our man.” 

Harry nodded. That’s the chap, without, a 
doubt.” 

“ Why, does he owe you something? ” queried 
the liveryman, curiously. 

The detective was on scent of his game, and 
his whole air changed. Turning swiftly to the 
man, who was leaning upon his broom eyeing 
them curiously, he said, crisply, in a tone of con- 
viction and authority: 

“ My dear sir, that party is no travelling man. 
He is a forger, and we are after him. Get out 
your best and swiftest team at once, and drive 
us over to Conly, just as quick as you can. We 
must catch that fellow before he reaches the rail- 
road, if possible. Hurry, now ! ” 

The effect of these words upon the liveryman 
was magical. 

Gosh all Hemlock! Is that so? A forger? ” 
and he stared at Mr. Vincent. 

“ Yes, and hurry up. Don’t stand there. He’s 
a desperate fellow, and no telling what he’ll do. 

177 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


He may throw your boy out of the buggy and 
drive on alone and sell the rig somewhere, if 
we don’t catch up with him.” 

Mr. Vincent mentioned the selling of the rig 
as a spur to touch the owner’s pocket, and it 
was very effective. 

Dropping the broom, he ran to the door of 
the horse-stable, and yelled: 

Pete, hitch up Dock and Ranger to the light 
double-seater, just as quick as you can. Drop 
everything, an’ hurry. I’ve got to drive a man 
over to Conly right away.” 

All right. Have ’em ready in two minutes. 
Just got ’em rubbed down,” and “ Pete ” came 
out of the stall in a profuse perspiration. 

‘‘ That feller that Arthur driv to Conly was 
a forger, an’ these fellers are after him,” and 
the liveryman shuffled about excitedly, as he as- 
sisted in getting the team ready. 

Pshaw ! Is that so ? A forger,” and 
“ Pete’s ” fingers flew swiftly from buckle to 
buckle. In an incredibly short space of time, 
everything was ready for the drive, and the pro- 
prietor called out: 

All set.” 


CHASING A FORGER 

‘‘How long have they been gone?” asked 
Mr. Vincent, as he stepped into the buggy. 

“ ’Bout an hour, ain’t it, Pete ? ” 

“Yes, purty near. I know they went just 
before Jim Atwood was here to see about gittin’ 
a rig for Sunday. That was about an hour ago.” 

“ Well, I can’t tell when I’ll be back. Don’t 
forget to hitch up the Widder Perkins’ old fam- 
ily nag at one o’clock. She’s goin’ out to her 
sister’s; an’ say, Pete, if A 1 Blackburn brings in 
that load of oats, put ’em in the north bin,” and 
the proprietor stepped into the buggy with the 
conscious air of importance of a person who is 
about to assist in saving the country, spoke to 
the spirited team, and they stepped briskly away 
over the smooth prairie roads. 

“ Think we’ll catch up with them before they 
reach Conly?” queried Mr. Vincent, as they 
whirled along. 

“ I dunno. The boy had the ponies, an’ they’re 
good travellers for little fellers, but of course 
they can’t travel with this team. This nigh boss 
has made it in 2.32, an’ t’other one ain’t much 
behind. I raised the nigh one from a colt, an’ 
broke him myself, an’ tv. hundred wouldn’t 
touch him. He’s in a straight line from Rys- 
179 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


dycks’ Hambletonian, though he hain’t never 
been registered. I'm satisfied I could look it 
up an’ have him registered if I wanted to, but 
I don’t care nothin’ about that. He couldn’t 
travel any faster if he was registered. T’other 
one I bought when he was a two-year-old. He’s 
a good animal, but he hain’t got the stayin’ qual- 
ities of the nigh one. That feller would travel 
from hell to breakfast ’thout feed or drink.” 

The loquacity of the driver seemed endless. 
Once the fountains of his great deep were broken, 
he rained anecdotes and reminiscences galore. 

He gave the history of every farm and its 
present and former owners as they sped by. His 
father had settled there in the early forties, and 
he had lived around in that immediate vicinity 
all his life, consequently he was familiar with 
every foot of the country and knew the history 
of every inhabitant. 

Half-way to Conly he was in the midst of a 
thrilling account of an Indian fight that the early 
pioneers had been through, when he suddenly 
broke off, and said: 

Well, if that ain’t my boy cornin’ afoot. I’m 
a goat. Yes, sir, it’s Arthur. Something’s the 
matter.” 

i8o 


CHASING A FORGER 


‘‘ It’s probably as I suggested,” said Mr. Vin- 
cent. “ He has given the boy the slip and gone 
on alone, thinking to sell the team to somebody. 
He’s a slippery chap, and wouldn’t hesitate at 
anything.” 

“If he tries hoss-stealin’ in this country, 
stranger, he’s liable to git swung up to a limb,” 
and the liveryman’s eyes snapped with the fire 
of battle. “ Hello, Arthur ! What’s the mat- 
ter ? Where’s your rig ? ” and he reined up to 
meet a sturdy boy of twelve. 

While the little fellow bore no evidences of 
weeping, he was evidently greatly worked up 
over something. The funereal expression on his 
face was almost pathetic. 

“ That man’s took it and gone. He run away 
from me. He’s a thief; he ain’t no travelling 
man,” and Arthur’s voice trembled with indig- 
nant rage. 

The detective chuckled. 

“ My boy, you made a wise guess. That man 
was a liar. He’s no drummer.” 

“ Jump in here, Arthur, and tell us about it. 
That feller’s a forger, an’ these men are after 
him. How did he give you the slip ? ” 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


The boy climbed nimbly into the seat beside 
his father, and said: 

Why, it was about a mile ahead of us. We 
was driving along when he asked me to stop and 
pick him some flowers that was out in a field. 
I was glad to let Spot and Betty breathe a bit, 
anyhow, so I stopped and handed him the lines 
and went after the flowers. 

“ I was just picking them, when all at once 
he give the ponies a cut with the whip, and drove 
on lickety-split. I yelled at him to hold on, but 
he never looked around. Then I knew some- 
thing was wrong. I watched him till he was out 
of sight, and then I started back afoot. He’ll 
just about drive. them ponies to death.” 

“ More like, he will try to sell them to some- 
body,” interrupted Mr. Vincent. 

“ He’ll have a good time selling them ponies 
along this road,” said Arthur, triumphantly ; 
“ everybody knows them.” 

He wouldn’t try to sell them until he got 
near the railroad so he could catch a train,” sug- 
gested Harry. 

“ I think you are right there, and we may over- 
take him before he reaches town,” said Mr. Vin- 
cent, hopefully. 


182 


CHASING A FORGER 


‘‘Wish I had my hands on the scoundrel; I 
wouldn’t leave a whole bone in his body,” gritted 
the liveryman. “ G’long, Dock ; don’t let your 
whiffle-tree lag,” and he touched the off horse 
with the whip, causing it to spring ahead of its 
mate, and the team dashed away with increased 
speed. Mile after mile was reeled off, until they 
were near their journey’s end, when a man came 
swiftly toward them in a sulky. 

He reined out, and as our friends came along 
gave the signal to stop. 

“ Hello, Berkly ! ” he called out. 

“ Hello, Zeke ! Where you goin’ so fast ? ” 
responded the liveryman. 

The former ignored the question, and called 
out, excitedly: 

“ Say, Jim, did you sell your ponies?” 

“ No, I didn’t, but a feller stole ’em, and we’re 
after him. Did you meet him ? ” replied Berkly, 
anxiously. 

“ Why, he stopped at my house a bit ago and 
wanted to sell me the hull rig. Said he was a 
nurseryman tra veilin’ through the country; that 
he just had a telegram that his wife was dyin’, 
an’ he had to git home soon as possible, an’ didn’t 
have any money. He offered to sell me the hull 
183 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


thing for a hundred dollars. I smelt a rat right 
away, cause I knew the ponies was yourn quick 
as I clapped my eyes on ’em. Then he wanted 
to borry fifty on ’em; said he’d come back an’ 
redeem ’em in a week; but I told him I didn’t 
have any money to lend, an’ he drove on. 

“ I was so sure from his actions that some- 
thing was wrong, that I hitched right up an’ 
started out to find you an’ see about it,” and the 
farmer wheeled his horse about in the direction 
he had come. 

“ Glad you did. He’s a forger, an’ these men 
are detectives after him. He’s tryin’ to ketch 
the train at Conly; we mustn’t lose a minute. 
Come on back,” and Mr. Berkly touched up his 
team and sped away, followed by his friend. 

Few words were spoken until they neared 
the little village. Then Mr. Vincent whispered 
to Harry : 

Have your revolver handy. We don’t know 
what may happen.” 

No sign of the pursued had been glimpsed 
when they drew up at the little livery-stable. 

‘‘Hello, Al!” 

“ Hello, Jim ! ” and the two liverymen shook 
hands. 


184 


CHASING A FORGER 


Seen anything of my ponies ? ’’ 

“ Yes, they’re in the barn now.” 

Good ! ” and Mr. Berkly breathed a sigh of 
relief. Where’s the feller that left ’em? ” 

“ I don’t know. He said to feed and water 
them, and went right away. Why, ain’t every- 
thing all right? ” as he noted the eager looks. 

I should say not. He stole ’em away from 
my boy here. These men are detectives after 
him.” 

The liveryman’s eyes opened, and he gave a 
low whistle. 

‘‘ Is that possible? Well, I don’t know where 
he went. He’s around town somewheres, I 
suppose. Hain’t been gone more’n ten min- 
utes.” 

What time is the next train due ? ” inquired 
Mr. Vincent, anxiously. 

The man looked at his watch. 

They’s a freight along in about five minutes, 
but it don’t stop; just slows up a little going 
through town.” 

He’ll try to board that freight,” said Mr. 
Vincent, turning to Harry. Let’s get over to 
the depot soon as possible. We may nab him 
there,” and he sprang from the buggy. 
i3s 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


They hurried to the depot, with guns at ready, 
but the fugitive was not there. 

“ He must have got wind of us, and turned 
back into the country,’' said the detective, in a 
disappointed tone. “ Here comes the freight. 
He won’t catch this train if — ” His voice was 
drowned in the roar and rumble, as the puffing 
engine and long string of cars slowly rolled past 
the little station. 

Both were keenly alert, and watched the plat- 
form closely, but no man in a gray suit was in 
sight. 

One by one the box cars and flats rolled by 
until the laboring engine was far up the track. 
Then the caboose passed, and their hopes were 
at an end. The detective said: 

“ Well, we must look somewhere else. He 
isn’t far away.” But Harry caught his arm, and 
cried, excitedly: 

“ There he is now! Way up the track! He’s 
going to jump her! ” 

Mr. Vincent looked up the track and saw the 
man they were chasing standing by the moving 
cars. He stood motionless while several cars 
passed him. Then, making a sudden spring, he 


i86 



“ HE CAUGHT THE IRON LADDER ON THE SIDE OF A BOX 
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CHASING A FORGER 


caught the iron ladder on the side of a box car 
and scrambled nimbly to the top. 

The detective’s eyes snapped. 

We’ll see if we can’t show him a trick,” and 
he hurried to the office. There, he wired the 
marshal of the next station to be on the lookout, 
and to send men down the track to meet the 
train, as the party would probably jump off be- 
fore reaching the town. 

Then he sat down to wait. It seemed a long 
time before that freight-train reached the next 
station, but at length a message came clicking 
over the wires : 

“ Got man. Come and identify.” 

“ Good ! ” cried the detective. How long 
before we can get a train up there?” 

The operator looked at his watch. 

“ In about twenty minutes.” 

That’s pretty good, Harry,” beamed Mr. 
Vincent, “ if it’s only the right man they’ve got.” 

Fortune favored him that time. It was the 
right man. Harry recognized the washed-out 
features instantly, when they reached the town 
and were confronted by the marshal and his 
prisoner. 

The latter consented to go back to Iowa with- 
187 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


out making any trouble, and in an hour they 
caught a train back to Conly. From thence, 
they drove back over the same route they had 
come, the prisoner being handcuffed to the de- 
tective. 

They were fortunate in catching a train at 
Fairview, so they arrived home about nine o’clock 
in the evening. 

" Mr. Vincent caught the first train west, and 
in due time landed his prisoner behind the bars. 
A word more will dispose of the misguided 
young man. When his trial came up, some 
months after, Harry was sent for as a witness, 
but the trial was put off on a technicality, and 
inside of a year young Hannon died of quick 
consumption. 

So his case never came to trial. This is a true 
story.. 


i88 


CHAPTER XIIL 


MESSENGER EXPERIENCE 

Harry was very tired after the long ride, and 
concluded to lie down on a cot in the office until 
train-time. Mr. Vincent took his prisoner to 
the depot hotel, and watched over him until 
train-time. 

Harry hunted up John Briggs, the depot po- 
liceman, and arranged to have the officer call 
him, and then went to sleep. 

It seemed hardly five minutes before he was 
routed out and informed that Number 2 was 
almost due. Gus Thompson came in, and, hav- 
ing heard of the money order trouble, wanted to 
know about it. 

‘‘ He's ih the hotel with Vincent," said Harry, 
jerking his thumb over his shoulder, waiting 
for Number 3." 

Parker will swear more than ever by your 
luck," replied Thompson, with a laugh. “ I 
hadn't any idea you would catch him." 

189 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


“We were rather lucky/’ and then while he 
checked up he gave Gus the details of the cap- 
ture. 

Thompson went to bed, and when the train 
for the west was due, George Parker came 
yawning out of the bedroom. 

“Hello! Get your man?” 

“ Yes. He is in the hotel with Vincent.” 

“ Good ! I understand it was Billy Hannon.” 

“ Yes, that is the name,” replied Harry. 

“ I’ve known Billy Hannon for years. He 
used to live in our town. He was always hang- 
ing around saloons and dance-halls from the time 
he was big enough to chase grasshoppers. My 
old man used to lick me every time he saw me 
with him. He never would work. Did you 
find the order-book on him ? ” asked Parker, as 
he took his way-bills. 

“ Yes. He had cashed five. We got all of 
the money but a few dollars,” said Harry, as 
they lifted the messenger safe on the trucks. 

“ He thought he was smart enough to live 
without working, but he fell down,” remarked 
Parker, sagely, as the train whistled. 

It seemed to Harry, when he went home after 
the transfer, that he would like to sleep a week 
190 


MESSENGER EXPERIENCE 


without a break. The next thing he remem- 
bered was hearing a shrill, childish treble call 
out : 

“Harry ain't shotted, mother; he is up here 
in bed." 

Then he recognized Jimmy's voice, and opened 
his eyes to the sunshine and the singing birds. 
He was very sleepy, but the children's voices, 
chattering below, helped to arouse him, and he 
soon yawned down-stairs. 

“ Who said anything about Harry being 
‘ shotted ? ' " he inquired, as he took his seat at 
the breakfast-table. 

“ I did. I said you wasn't shotted," asserted 
Jimmy. 

“ All right. I'll take your word for it," said 
Harry, sleepily. 

“Did you shoot the other man?" inquired 
Phil, buttering a waffle, and burying it in 
syrup. 

“ No, we didn't shoot anybody. Just pass me 
an egg, please." 

“ There aren't many waffles, children. You 
must go a little slow on them," admonished Mrs. 
Baker. 

“ I wonder how many there are apiece. I'm 
191 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


hungry/’ said Phil, looking longingly toward 
the kitchen. 

ril tell you. Let’s count them,” suggested 
Mary. 

“ You bring them here, and I’ll do the divide 
act,” said Harry, stirring his coffee. 

“ All right. Let Harry divide them,” and 
in a twinkling Mary had the extra waffles on 
the table. 

‘‘ How many ? ” 

'' Eleven ! ” shouted Phil, who had quickly 
counted them. 

‘‘ How many times does six go into eleven ? ” 

‘‘ Once, and five over,” Phil and Mary cried, 
in a breath. 

All right. You folks eat the ‘ once,’ and I’ll 
take the ‘five over.’ How is that?” and 
Harry looked around, gravely. 

“ We are satisfied if you say so,” said Mary, 
meekly, but a little dubiously. 

“ Good girl. Here you are,” and he gave 
them a waffle each. 

“ Hold on, Jim Baker. You never stuck a 
tooth in that waffle. That’ll never do. You will 
die of indigestion.” 

“ I did, too. I bited it twice. And I couldn’t 
192 


MESSENGER EXPERIENCE 


ingestion on one waffle anyhow/’ protested 
Jimmy, stoutly. 

‘‘ Well, here. Fll just divide them among you 
four piccaninnies. Mother and I don’t care for 
them, anyhow.” 

“ No, sir. You sha’n’t. You’ve just robbed 
yourself and mother, protested Mary. 

'‘No; I don’t care particularly for them, 
children. And I know mother doesn’t,” said 
Harry, kindly. 

" Don’t urge him too hard. He might over- 
eat,” advised Phil, with a longing look at the 
pile of waffles. 

" No. You must watch out for my digestion,” 
laughed Harry, as he arose from the table. 

" Did you find out anything about your man ? ” 
asked his mother. 

“ Yes. We caught him and the detective took 
him back to Iowa this morning,” Harry replied, 
as he picked up his hat. 

"Did you get the money back ? ” 

" Yes, all but a few dollars,” and he hurried 
away to the office. 

" Here, Agent. I turn the office over to you 
again. I didn’t steal a thing or take in a cent,” 
Jackman called out when Harry entered. 

193 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


Oh, I nailed everything down, so 1 wasn’t 
worried,” retorted Harry, in the same vein. 

“What do you do here all day, Jackman?” 
asked Haverly, as he began to get ready for his 
train. 

“ Oh, sleep, go fishing, shoot rats, talk politics 
with the agent here, and lecture him sometimes 
when he doesn’t do right, and various other 
things.” 

“ Well, you seem to have plenty of ways to kill 
time here. I was thinking of asking you into the 
city on your lay-over some trip, and show you 
the sights, but you seem to be all right here.” 

Jackman spoke with a peculiar accent, — a 
slightly Scotch twang — not broad enough to be 
called a dialect, but still noticeable. It was 
an accent that must be heard to be appreciated. 

He waved his hand with a deprecating ges- 
ture. 

“ Excuse me. Not any more of that pie for 
the subscriber. I saw those much-vaunted 
‘ sights ’ years ago, from the ' fire on the Lake 
front ’ up to the gilded halls of revelry. I dis- 
covered that there were a number of ingenious 
places for successfully divorcing oneself from his 
cash, but they don’t get any more of mine. I’ll 
194 


MESSENGER EXPERIENCE 


just salt my little seventy-five per instead of pass- 
ing it over to the sharks in that town.” 

Haverly laughed and said : 

“ So they used you pretty rough, eh ? ” 

I don’t know what you city toughs call it, 
but that’s the way it seemed to me. I hadn’t 
more than landed before a fellow sidled up to me 
and said he knew my grandfather, or some other 
relative. Used to go to school with my mother 
at the same country school. Then he said there 
was a big fire down on the Lake front, and of- 
fered to show it to me. It was my first trip into 
a big town, and, of course, I was green. I was 
tickled to death to find an old friend, and fol- 
lowed him off like a two-weeks-old calf. But 
don’t ask me to talk any more about it. Please 
pass the sackcloth and ashes.” 

“Too bad. Did you have much with you?” 
said Haverly, in a matter-of-fact way. 

“ Only about twenty ; but it would have 
been just the same if it had been twenty hun- 
dred.” 

“Of course. There’s a sucker born every 
minute, you know.” 

“ I know it. I’m not wailing about it. Just 
charged it up to experience. I was a cub in the 

195 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


Des Moines office then. My, but I thought I 
was smart! I had gray matter enough in my 
head to supply a bus-load of college professors, 
according to my way of thinking. And say, 
I got some beautiful jolts before I found out that 
I didn’t,” and Jackman chuckled at the remem- 
brance of his foolish days. 

‘‘ I was born and raised in Chicago, so I got 
on to all those crooks before I was old enough to 
bite,” said Haverly. ‘‘ But once, when I was a 
lad about twelve, I saw one of those smooth 
* artists ’ try to catch an old farmer, and he 
didn’t. He pretended to find a wallet that the 
old fellow had dropped. Of course, the old chap 
knew he hadn’t dropped any wallet; but he was 
greedy, like most of them, and thought if he 
could get something for nothing, he’d be so much 
ahead, and have a good story to tell the folks at 
home. When he opened it up and found several 
bills in it, his eyes fairly snapped. Of course, he 
knew the fellow expected a reward for his hon- 
esty; but, do you know, that old scamp had sense 
enough to pay the crook out of that particular 
wallet, instead of using his own money. He 
handed him a bill and thanked him. Of course, 
the money was counterfeit, and when the critter 
196 


MESSENGER EXPERIENCE 


saw he was beaten at his own game he tried to 
get the old farmer to change it into silver; but 
nixy. The old lad claimed he didn’t have any 
change. If it had been on a lonely street, or in 
the evening, the chances are he would have been 
banged over the head. But the fellow saw two 
or three of us boys guying him off, and people 
were passing and repassing; so he let the old 
agriculturist go off with his wallet and counter- 
feit money. After I got older, though, and saw 
more of those fellows work, I made up my mind 
that that particular one was not an artist, but 
just an apprentice, as it were.” 

They don’t get any more of my hard-earned 
shekels, if I know it,” said Jackman, sharpening 
his pencil preparatory to making out his freight 
report. 

“ Here’s your way-bills and money run, Phil,” 
Harry called out. 

All right. Got much ? ” 

No; only a few bills. Here are three pack- 
ages for Hallberg, a non-reporting office.” 

Those non-reporting offices are a nuisance,” 
said Haverly, with a frown. “ Sometimes it’s 
two weeks before I get my money. We only 
stop about a minute at those little dinky places, 
197 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


so if the agent don’t have the exact change ready 
we have to let it go till some other trip. I wish 
the company would abolish non-reporting offices, 
or put a reporting agent there.” 

“ Do any of them ever beat you out of the 
charges ? ” asked Harry, taking hold of one end 
of Phil’s safe and pointing to the other. 

“ Yes, I lost a dollar and a half once,” said 
Haverly, taking the hint and helping to load the 
safe on the truck. A harum-scarum young 
operator got drunk, tapped the railroad till for 
forty dollars, and skipped. He owed the express 
company a dollar and a half, which, with my 
usual luck, meant me. Burt and Martin didn’t 
get stuck for a cent.” 

They’re probably better collectors than you 
are,” interrupted Jackman. You ought to run 
through Iowa, where folks are honest.” 

“ Excuse me. I prefer to run into Chicago, 
where I can see something once in awhile.” 

“ Don’t want to change runs then ? ” said 
Jackman, winking at Harry. 

No, sir. I’m satisfied. This run just suits 
me. If you want a change, why don’t you take 
this office and let Harry have your run?” said 
Phil. 


198 


MESSENGER EXPERIENCE 


Me change ! I wouldn’t have this office as a 
gift,” said Jackman, contemptuously. 

“ He gets as much salary as we do.” 

‘‘ I can’t help it if he gets twice as much. I 
wouldn’t have it. I want my little regular sleep. 
I’d work on the section before I’d have this office 
and tend all the trains.” 

“ You fellows can’t stand grief,” laughed 
Harry. 

“ Maybe not, son. Not this kind of grief,” 
retorted Jackman, as the train whistled. 


199 


CHAPTER XIV. 


QUEER EXPRESS PACKAGES 

Who comes in this morning?” asked Hav- 
erly, picking up his grip. 

Ben Brown,” Harry replied, starting up the 
platform with the trucks. 

I hope this won’t be ' calf ’ day,” Phil re- 
marked, swinging his grip leisurely. 

“ r guess about every day is ‘calf’ day at 
this time of year, isn’t it? ” laughed Harry. 

“ Pretty near. But some days are worse than 
others. Some trips in we don’t pick up more 
than half a dozen; then again, we may get half 
a car-load. The other day Tom Martin caught 
fifty-two. Maybe he wasn’t disgusted, though,” 
and Phil laughed as they pulled up to the side 
door of the express-car. 

“ What you got for transfer, Ben ? ” 

“ Oh, not much, but I’ve got a mighty lively 
pelican or crane, or whatever you’re a mind to 
call it, here. Say, but he’s a surly, haughty 


200 


QUEER EXPRESS PACKAGES 


beast. He wouldn’t make friends with the 
Pope.” 

Where’s he going? ” 

‘‘ Some fellow in Quincy.” 

“ He’ll go south t6-night. In the meantime, 
I’ll have to feed and water. Are the charges 
prepaid ? ” 

“ Sure. Advance charges and all. Don’t 
suppose we would take a critter like that any 
other way, do you ? ” said Ben, as they lifted 
out a crate containing a big, homely bird that 
seemed to be mostly legs, neck, and bill. 

“ I should hope not. I wonder what they call 
it,” and Harry reached for the tag on the crate. 
In a flash, a long, hard bill shot out between the 
slats and struck him a stinging blow on the arm. 
He hastily drew the offending arm out of dan- 
ger, and rubbed it mournfully. 

'' Shades of Heenan, but that fellow is a war- 
rior! He can strike almost as hard a blow as 
Tom Purdy,” he remarked, looking at his ruf- 
fled adversary with increased respect, while Phil 
and Ben laughed. 

I can tell you, you don’t want to monkey 
with that gentleman,” remarked the latter. “ I 


201 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


got a couple of good raps from him, before I 
learned the length of his sword-arm/’ 

“ They ought to send him up to Madison to 
take the place of ‘ Old Abe,’ the Wisconsin war 
eagle,” remarked Haverly, as he climbed into the 
car and put on his working clothes. 

He could do it, so far as scrapping is con- 
cerned, although his family isn’t quite as re- 
spectable. He’s more like a common tough,” 
said Ben, as he swung down out of the car. 

“ Be a good boy till I find out your name,” 
said Harry, coaxingly, as the yellow eyes glared 
at him defiantly. 

On the tag was written: 

American bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus).” 

Harry read both names aloud. 

“ Say, that fellow is fixed all right for names,” 
remarked Haverly. 

That long-winded name is his Sunday 
name, of course,” said Ben. 

'' Probably the one he uses when he attends 
swell receptions, or goes to college,” put in Hav- 
erly. “ Looks like a common old ‘ stake driver,’ 
too,” he added. 

“ Yes, he looks just like the big ‘ thunder 
pumps ’ we used to throw stones at when I was 


202 


QUEER EXPRESS PACKAGES 

a boy/’ said Brown, waving his hand, taunt- 
ingly, before the slats. 

Quick as lightning the horny bill shot out, 
and blood spurted from the back of his hand. 

“ There! Now will you be good? ” called out 
Phil from the car. 

“Yes; I pass. It was my fault,” responded 
Ben, quietly, although he was forced to grit his 
teeth from the pain of the wound. 

Harry hastily wrapped his handkerchief 
around the wound, while Brown gazed lov- 
ingly (?) at the irate winged warrior, with the 
remark : 

“ My friend, you seem to carry a chip on your 
shoulder continually. That’s the third time 
you’ve tried to raise a row with me, and I’ll tell 
you right here, if you weren’t in the sacred 
charge of the express company and in the hands 
of their trusted agent, there would be some- 
thing doing in your back lot.” 

If the “ Botaurus lentiginosus ” understood 
his remarks, it made no sign, but the glaring 
yellow eyes continued to pierce him with a look 
of hate, as it stood perfectly motionless. 

“ ‘ Trusted agent ’ is good,” called Haverly, 


203 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


with a laugh. Next time you run up against 
a feathered Bob Fitzsimmons, let him alone.’' 

Never mind, Ben, I’ll put some salve on your 
hand when we get to the office,” said Harry, 
consolingly, as the truck rattled along. 

“ Mamma, but that hurts,” remarked the 
former, as he looked at the blood-stained hand- 
kerchief. 

It will teach me to watch out for him while 
he’s in the office,” said Harry. ‘‘ I wonder what 
they feed him ? ” 

“ Mostly brad-awls, I guess. If it were me. 
I’d feed him arsenic,” retorted the suffering 
Ben. 

“ I didn’t know they were so vicious,” Harry 
said, as the truck stopped at the office door. 

“ I didn’t, either ; but I do now.” 

Of course the usual crowd of curiosity-seek- 
ers soon gathered around the truck to gaze at 
the homely bird and ask questions. 

What you got here, Harry ? ” 

‘‘ Oh, that’s a ‘ What is it ? ’ ” said Harry, 
winking at Ben. 

Looks like a common old ‘ fly-up- the-creek.’ 
Is it coming to live with us ? ” 


204 


QUEER EXPRESS PACKAGES 


‘‘ No; just a transfer. Going to some fellow 
down in Quincy.’’ 

I thought nobody here would be fool enough 
to buy such a looking critter.” 

“ Maybe some farmer is going to use it for 
a scarecrow to keep the blackbirds out of the 
corn,” and the speaker stooped and peered 
through the slats at the silent bird. 

The fact that he was slightly beyond neck 
reach saved his right eye. For the long beak 
shot out, and '"the tip of the winged warrior’s 
bill made a livid spot just below that much- 
prized optic. 

For an instant everybody gasped, as the man 
leaped back. Then, when they saw that his eye 
had escaped, a general laugh broke out. 

‘‘ Did you run up against a snag. Bill ? ” 

“ Pretty handy with his mitt, all right.” 

“ Guess I’ll talk to that party over the tele- 
phone.” 

“ Say, but don’t he strike a nasty blow ! ” 

** If .1 could strike that hard and quick. I’d 
be in the ring inside of a week.” 

How does it feel. Bill ? ” laughed another. 

It doesn’t feel very sniptious, but I’m thank- 
ful to think I saved my eye,” was the reply, as 
205 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


he wiped that useful organ with his handker- 
chief. 

‘‘ How long does that pugilist sojourn here, 
Harry?” 

“ He goes south to-night.” 

What’s the matter with giving a boxing ex- 
hibition in your office and charging admit- 
tance ? ” 

‘‘ All right. Bring on your boxers,” laughed 
Harry, as he and Ben cautiously took hold of 
the crate and lifted it from the truck. 

Al, go and get that fifty-dollar bulldog of 
yours ; I’ll bet a five on him.” 

“He’s a fool if he does,” remarked another; 
“ that bird would have the dog’s eyes out before 
he could get his mouth open.” 

“ Excuse me,” the owner of the fighting 
canine replied. “ I don’t mind him fighting any- 
thing in the dog line, but when it comes to tack- 
ling a pickaxe run by lightning, I pass.” 

“ How do you get near enough to feed the 
animal ? ” asked another. 

“ I don’t know. I’ll let him fast until to- 
night, I guess,” Harry replied, as they carried 
the crate into the office. 

“ That’s easy,” remarked one of the crowd 
206 


QUEER EXPRESS PACKAGES 


that had followed into the office; “ j^st catch 
a frog and hold it out in front of the coop and 
let him spear it like he did Bill’s eye,” and every- 
body laughed. 

That’s all right ; but who’s going to hold 
the frog? ” 

Baker, of course ; he’s agent.” 

‘‘ Excuse me. I’ll worry along without hold- 
ing any frogs for that gentleman to spear,” 
Harry remarked, as he and Ben began checking 
the run, and the crowd slowly melted away. 

As a curious coincidence, the following morn- 
ing on Number 6 George Parker brought in a 
deer. 

Another pet for you,” he called out, as the 
train stopped, and Harry pulled up alongside 
of the car. 

“ What in the world is it now ? I caught a 
bittern yesterday that snapped everybody’s eyes 
out and bored a hole in Ben’s hand.” 

What’s a bittern ? ” asked Parker, as he 
began to shove out the freight. 

“ Oh, it’s a big bird with a long bill and a 
bad disposition. Where does this deer go?” 

“ Out west of Davenport somewhere. It’s 
billed to Davenport.” 


207 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


“ Just so it don’t bite, I don’t care.” 

“ No, it’s gentle. Came from Wisconsin. 
It’s a pet for somebody, I guess.” 

‘‘ Glad I don’t have to bother with it,” said 
Harley Burt, the ingoing messenger. 

‘‘ Oh, you needn’t worry ; you’ll get calves 
enough before you get to Chicago,” laughed 
Parker, as he and Harry started for the office. 

“ I know it, and that’s why I don’t hanker 
for any live four-legged freight.” 

The deer naturally drew a larger audience 
than the bittern of the previous day. 

A number of passengers, waiting for their 
trains, gathered around. 

“ They like fine-cut chewing-tobacco better 
than a man,” remarked a gray-haired, keen-eyed 
man to a friend, as they contemplated the ani- 
mal. 

“ Is that so? ” asked the other, incredulously. 

“ Yes. Look here,” and the gentleman took 
out his tobacco-box, pinched off a chew and 
handed it through the slats of the crate. 

The delicate muzzle met his offering half-way, 
took the bit of tobacco eagerly, chewed it a 
moment gratefully, and then, swallowing it, 
pricked up the pretty ears for more. 

208 


QUEER EXPRESS PACKAGES 

“ Well, that’s the first time I ever knew that. 
My respect for a deer drops forty per cent, 
right here.” 

The gray-haired man laughed. 

“Why? Tobacco is a plant the same as 
grass, isn’t it ? ” 

“Yes, but you give a deer the choice between 
grass and tobacco, and he will take the grass. 
I’ll guarantee.” 

“ I suppose so ; but the fact remains that they 
like the ‘ weed.’'" I think most all animals do, 
for that matter.” 

Harry was dumbfounded. He had never 
heard of such a thing. The idea of a deer chew- 
ing tobacco seemed absurd. But here was a deer 
doing that identical thing, and apparently enjoy- 
ing it. 

George Parker nudged him. 

“ You see that deer was raised in Wisconsin, 
where they grow tobacco. It probably acquired 
the tobacco habit before it was weaned.” 

“ It has mighty poor taste,” was the disgusted 
reply. 

“ That deer can eat what you can’t, Harry,” 
laughed one of the men. 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 

So can a hog/' was the retort, and the laugh 
was on the would-be joker. 

One morning Jackman brought in a large owl, 
with eyes big as a silver dollar. Tom Martin 
took the run in, and the wise-looking bird 
caught his attention the first thing. 

‘‘Hello, Frank. Is this your side partner?” 

“ Yes, that’s Solomon,” replied Jackman, as 
he locked his safe and pulled it to the door. 

“Is he very talkative?” inquired Martin. 

“ No. Seems to hang on to all of his wisdom. 
He may know a great deal, but he’s awful dis- 
creet in telling it.” 

“ He knew whom he was travelling with,” ob- 
served Martin, getting into his working clothes. 

“ I guess so. But I don’t think he will talk 
enough to distract your attention from your 
work.” 

Harry walked up to the crate and gazed curi- 
ously at the big bird. It stared back at him 
without blinking or ruffling a feather. 

“Sure it isn’t stuffed?” he called to Jack- 
man. 

“ No, I’m not sure. In fact I rather think 
it is stuffed,” returned the messenger. “ There 
was a lot of grub in the box when I got it, and 


QUEER EXPRESS PACKAGES 

as it has disappeared I rather think Solomon 
has stuffed himself with it.” 

“ I see. Has this fellow got a big name, 
too?” 

Yes. Two or three names tacked on to the 
crate. I tried to pronounce some of them, but 
got the lockjaw, so the brakeman had to pry 
open my mouth with the axe.” 

Harry stooped and spelled out : Scotiaptex 
Cinereum.” Below, in plain English, was the 
name, “ Great Gray Owl.” 

“No wonder it don’t talk,” said Tom; “it’s 
loaded down with name so it can’t.” 

“ Maybe it is. I didn’t think of that. I sup- 
posed it was studying out something, or thinking 
of its sins. We’ll let it go at that. The critter 
is going to Philadelphia, where it can have a 
good rest. You’ll find a box ^ over ’ for Indian- 
apolis. I made a mem. for it. So long,” and 
Jackman and Harry rumbled the trucks away to 
the office, leaving Martin to begin his work. 


2II 


CHAPTER XV. 


A LIVELY SCRIMMAGE 

Harry, Eve been about fourteen miles out 
of my reckoning.’^ 

‘‘How's that?" and Harry looked up, in- 
quiringly. 

“ Well, you know Eve figured and thought 
a good deal over that stuff you lost. It seemed 
to me I had it all figured out where it went to, 
except that I didn’t know where to find it. I 
wove a beautiful chain of evidence in my mind; 
everything was smooth as goose-grease, and 
sure as taxes. I didn’t say anything about it, 
for I couldn’t prove a thing. Now, Em glad 
I didn’t, for I was way off,’’ and Jack Dodd 
dropped into a chair, in a perplexed way. 

“What in the world did you figure out? I 
couldn’t think of anybody to suspect except 
tramps,’’ returned Harry, in astonishment. 

Jack looked at him a moment, and then his 
face wrinkled into a smile. 


A LIVELY SCRIMMAGE 


‘‘ Do you know, I put this and that together 
and figured out that Jasper Hardy was at the 
bottom of it.” 

“Jasper Hardy? The idea! He wouldn’t 
dare do such a thing,” and Harry’s eyes opened 
wide in amazement. 

“ Don’t be too sure. You don’t know him as 
well as I do. But in this case I find that I was 
wrong. I just learned the other day that he 
went west about the time you took the agency 
for the transfer. Went to Montana. So that 
lets him out,” and Jack looked just a little bit 
sorry that his detective scent had gone astray, 
even if it had implicated an old schoolmate. 
We do so dislike to have our pet theories over- 
turned. Most of us would sacrifice more than a 
schoolmate on the altar of our egotism. 

“ Well, I’m glad you were wrong. I’d hate 
to know that Jasper would do such a thing.” 

“ Don’t be too sure. He isn’t any too good, 
to my way of thinking,” retorted Jack. 

“ I knew he was shiftless and lazy, but plenty 
of people are afflicted that way, who would 
never dream of robbery.” 

“ His morals are none too good, as we both 
know, and I just quietly figured out all by 

213 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


myself that he was mad at your getting this 
transfer business away from him, and took that 
method of wreaking vengeance on you, and 
downing you if possible. But I guess I wasn’t 
cut out for a detective,” and Jack laughed good- 
naturedly, as he arose and walked to the win- 
dow. 

“ It’s funny that you should think of him the 
first thing, and I never suspect him at all. But 
then, why should I ? He never stood a ghost of 
a show to get the transfer agency. Mr. Cum- 
mings told me so.” 

I don’t suppose he did. But you couldn’t 
make him believe that. He thought he had a 
dead sure cinch on it. He told that all over 
town.” 

I know he did, but I didn’t suppose he be- 
lieved it, himself.” 

“ Don’t you think it. He is just thick-headed 
and bull-headed enough to believe he had this 
job hard and fast, if it hadn’t been for you.” 

“ Maybe he did, but it doesn’t seem that he 
could have been so foolish. The company 
doesn’t select its agents that way.” 

“ I don’t suppose they do, but Jasper didn’t 
know anything about that. He probably figured 
214 


A LIVELY SCRIMMAGE 


that because a man got up a petition if he wanted 
to be postmaster, he did the same thing if he 
wanted an express agency.’' 

Well, I’m glad it wasn’t he, anyhow,” said 
Harry, with a sigh of relief. 

‘‘ So am I, I suppose,” said Jack, reluctantly, 
but,” he added, laughing, you know a fellow 
hates to build up a nice little theory without a 
flaw in it, and then have it knocked into a cocked 
hat.” 

I never knew much about him,” Harry went 
on. He chummed with a different set of boys, 
so I had few opportunities of finding out his 
weak points.” 

Well, I found out a lot of them. He was 
mostly all weak points. He naturally hadn’t 
any more morals than a coyote. That’s why I 
mistrusted him the first thing. But it looks as if 
I’d have to work out a different theory.” 

“ I guess in the end you’ll find that it was 
tramps,” remarked Harry. 

“ Maybe it was. There are plenty of them 
around to do it, although it’s usually a little out 
of their line,” replied Jack, shrewdly, as he 
slowly and thoughtfully meandered back to the 


215 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


baggage-room, while Harry mused and pon- 
dered upon their conversation. 

In his youth and innocence, he was yet to 
learn what jealousy, hatred, and revenge would 
do when given free play in the mind. 

The following morning, a short, but vigorous, 
drama was enacted at the depot. 

Just before Number 6 was due, a band of la- 
borers that had been working on the “ dump ” 
filed into the men’s waiting-room, adjoining the 
ticket-office, headed by their foreman. They 
were Italians, ignorant and low-browed, and 
could speak but little English. At present they 
were in an ugly mood, as their actions plainly 
showed, and the foreman had little control over 
them. 

It seems that, their pay being due, they had 
left the grade where they were working, and 
gone to the nearest town to get it, as usual. 

For some reason the pay-checks were not 
there, and they were notified to go to another 
town for them. Arriving there, they were again 
disappointed, and, piling on to an open flat car, 
the whole gang came into Bluffton, looking for 
money or trouble. 

Their foreman, of course, was an American, 
216 



“ ‘ WE WANTA OUR MON,’ HE SHOUTED.” 


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A LIVELY SCRIMMAGE 


and he quickly found out from Mr. Marsh, the 
agent, that the checks were not there. He told 
the waiting, sullen crowd the facts in the case, 
and said he would wire for instructions, but 
they were done with him, and insisted upon hav- 
ing their money right then and there. In their 
ignorance and blind childish rage the idea crept 
through their heads that they were being swin- 
dled out of a hard-earned month’s pay by the 
cunning Americans, and they were furious. 

After jabbering among themselves for a time, 
a burly, fierce-looking fellow took the leader- 
ship, and marched up to the ticket-office. 

‘‘ We wanta our mon,” he shouted, threaten- 
ingly, thrusting his face through the ticket win- 
dow. 

“ I haven’t got your money, as I told your 
foreman,” replied Mr. Marsh, firmly. 

We wanta our mon, I say, or we take it,” 
and the fellow scowled and shook his head in 
a threatening way. 

‘‘ I don’t know anything about your money. 
Get out of this office, every one of you,” retorted 
Mr. Marsh, who was a small, nervous, fidgety 
man. 


217 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


Never, till we geta our mon,’^ and the big 
fellow reached through the window. 

“ Get out of here, I tell you,’’ and the agent 
picked up a small stove-poker, and gave the fel- 
low a light tap on the nose. 

Such a storm as that raised ! The whole gang 
gathered around their leader, shaking their 
fists and vociferating in barbarous Italian. 

A knife gleamed in the air, and affairs began 
to look squally. 

Boys, put these men out of the depot,” 
called Mr. Marsh, in a loud tone. 

Never was more welcome news received. A 
score of railroad men stood around, watching 
the proceedings and sizing up ” the crowd of 
belligerent Italians. 

“ Come on, boys, and look out for knives ! ” 
called Barney Maguire, springing into the room 
and jerking a son of classic Italy headlong out 
of the door. A dozen men sprang after him, 
and for a few minutes the scene was a lively 
one. 

Blows, cries, and the shuffling of feet filled 
the air, punctuated at frequent intervals by the 
form of an Italian, flying through the door and 
sprawling upon the platform. 

218 


A LIVELY SCRIMMAGE 


The sons of Italy were no match for the 
Americans in fist work. Evidently their means 
of defence and offence had been the dagger or 
club, instead of the fist. 

It was every man for himself. 

A beefy young fellow, Johnny Mitchen, with 
no knowledge of the manly art,” but eager to 
distinguish himself, struck a thick-set Italian 
twice squarely ■‘in the mouth, expecting to floor 
him. He never even dented the skin. In fact a 
fly might just as well have kicked the man. He 
merely looked surprised, and his eyes glowed 
with anger. 

Jim Bartlett, a tall, lithe, cool-eyed brakeman, 
stood by with one elbow resting upon the ticket- 
window shelf. For sortie reason he was merely 
watching the fight without taking part in it. 

He observed young Mitchen’s futile attempt 
at downing his adversary, and laughed. 

“ Let me show you how to touch him up, 
Johnny.” 

There was the flash of an arm and the sound 
of a blow, and the man dropped to the floor. 

“ That’s the way to do it.” 

Just as he spoke, a fierce-looking fellow, with 
a foreign curse, leaped at Barney Maguire’s 
219 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


back, with uplifted dagger. In another instant 
it would have been buried to the hilt in the brave 
Irishman’s neck. 

Bartlett’s eye caught the movement, and, with 
a quick bound, he was by his side. Before the 
murderous knife could descend, he dealt the 
man a blow in the temple that sent him crash- 
ing to the floor, and the dagger flew from his 
hand. 

Barney partially turned his head from the 
man he was grappling v/ith, and took in the sit- 
uation at a glance. 

'' Thanks, Jim,” and the next instant he 
threw his own antagonist out of the door. 

Some of the Italians, however, surprised the 
boys. 

A young fireman grabbed one of them by the 
shoulders and shoved him toward the door. The 
fellow turned, and, with an awkwardly delivered 
blow, felled the fireman to the floor, causing 
laughter and jeers from the latter’s companions, 
who witnessed the unlooked-for feat. 

The young man sprang up, dealt his adversary 
a blow that dazed him, and, catching him by the 
shoulders, hustled the pugilistic dago out on 
the platform. 


220 


A LIVELY SCRIMMAGE 


There was one exception to the crude awk- 
wardness of the Italians in handling their fists, 
and that was their leader. 

He was a powerful man, and had picked up a 
little science somewhere. When most of his 
companions had been hustled out on the plat- 
form, he was still in the room, swearing in bar- 
barous Italian that he would stab the first man 
who offered to"^ touch him. 

Just then some one called out: 

“Here’s Tom Purdy! Tom, come and put 
this fellow out of the depot.” 

“ What’s the matter ? ” inquired Purdy. 

Affairs were explained to him, and he walked 
fearlessly into the room. The big fellow stood 
scowling at the world, as Tom went up to 
him. 

“ Get out of here I ” 

For an answer, the Italian reached into his 
pocket with a growl. But Tom was too quick 
for him. One flash of his arm, and that terrible 
fist did its work. A crash and a groan, and the 
man lay motionless upon the floor. 

Purdy stooped, and, taking a firm grip of his 
adversary, lifted him bodily and held him at 
arm’s length above his head. Then, walking to 


221 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


the door, he tossed him at full length upon the 
platform. He turned quickly, just as four of 
the fellow’s comrades, with drawn knives, sprang 
toward him. Maguire and Bartlett started 
toward them, although neither had a weapon. 

It looked as if somebody would get hurt, but 
at that juncture a man in a blue uniform stepped 
into the room, and a revolver was levelled at 
the heads of the hostile Italians. 

The ringing voice of Barney Horton, the day 
policeman, called, Stop ! ” and the scrimmage 
ended right there. 

No one had a more wholesome respect for of- 
ficial authority than those same Italians, and 
when they caught sight of a blue uniform, their 
knives disappeared as if by magic, and they 
quickly slunk out-of-doors and joined their com- 
panions.* 

'‘Where have you been all this time? You 
missed the fun,” laughed Maguire. 

" I was up at the other end of the yards until 
I heard of this row. Anybody hurt ? ” 

“ Nobody but dagos, I guess. One of them 
tried to stick a knife into me, but Bartlett ob- 
jected, and persuaded him not to,” replied Ma- 
guire, grimly. 


222 


A LIVELY SCRIMMAGE 


Meanwhile, the wires had been busy, and now 
Mr. Marsh came out of the office with a tele- 
gram. 

“ Load those fellows on a flat car, and take 
them back where they came from. Their checks 
are there waiting for them. Where is their 
foreman?’^ 

“ He is outside trying to get his flock to- 
gether,” reported YLorton, a few moments later. 

“Did you tell him what I said?” asked Mr. 
Marsh, nervously. 

“ Yes. He will have them ready soon as the 
car is.” 

“ Thank heaven, we will be rid of them 
soon,” said Mr. Marsh, with a look of anxiety 
and relief. 

“ Poor critters ! I suppose they’re not to 
blame for what they don’t know,” remarked 
Tom Purdy, with a half-pitying glance at the 
jabbering, gesticulating laborers outside. 

“ They’re a little too handy with a knife to 
suit me,” said Maguire, with a grimace and a 
shrug of the shoulder. 

“ They learned that over in Italy,” said Tom, 
with a laugh. “ Knives take the place of fists 
over there, probably.” 


223 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 

“ They’ll learn mighty quick that knives don’t 
go in this country.” 

The nervous agent breathed much easier when 
the flat car, with its human load, pulled out of 
the yards. 

Harry missed the whole row. He was busy 
in the office getting ready for Number 6. Hav- 
erly, who arose late, was at breakfast. Jack- 
man, who came in during the night, was asleep, 
and Sam Andrews, always an early riser, had 
breakfasted and was taking a morning airing 
around town. 

The first Harry knew of the trouble, Haverly 
came leisurely into the office as usual. 

“Why aren’t you over to the picnic?” he 
inquired. 

“ What picnic ? ” asked Harry, looking up 
from his work. 

“ They have been throwing a gang of Italians 
out of the depot. They got boisterous about 
something, and wanted to run things, I believe. 
I got there just in time to see that strong man 
of yours, Tom Purdy, pick a man up bodily and 
throw him outdoors. Say, but that fellow has 
muscle! I wouldn’t have believed it, if I hadn’t 
seen it,” said Haverly, admiringly. 

224 


A LIVELY SCRIMMAGE 

“ I didn't know a thing about it. What was 
the trouble?" 

“ I don’t know. Something about their pay. 
What have you got ? ’’ replied Haverly, uncon- 
cernedly. He had lived in Chicago too long to 
get excited over crowds or trouble. 

“ Not much, as usual." 

“ Who comes in ? " 

‘‘ Ben Brown." 

‘‘ There’s the whistle, now. Come on." 

The long, low hiss of the air on Number 6 
died away as Brown opened the side door of the 
express-car. 

‘‘ Well, well ! You’re both alive, and haven’t 
a scratch," he remarked, in mock surprise. 

“ What do we want to be dead or scratched 
for? ’’ asked Phil, as he swung into the car. 

I heard you had a big fight on here," said 
Ben, as he began to unload. 

Oh, the boys threw a few dozen dagos out 
of the depot. That isn’t worth mentioning," 
said Haverly, calmly, as he assisted in taking in 
the freight. 

‘‘ I’ll wager that both of you fellows were 
locked up in the bedroom," retorted Ben. 

“ We were both just itching to get right in 
225 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


the thick of the fight, but Harry was checking 
up and I was at breakfast,” said Haverly, sol- 
emnly. 

“ More like, you were itching to get right in 
the thick of the bedclothes,” said Ben, as he 
handed out Harry’s run. 

“ Guess you never saw Harry or me in a row, 
did you ? ” remarked Phil, as he began to don 
his working clothes. 

“ No, and I never expect to,” and Ben slid 
his safe out with the assistance of Harry. 

“ All right. Have it your own way, but I 
didn’t eat more than half a breakfast, I was so 
anxious to get out. Just swallowed four eggs, 
two slices of ham, a couple of cups of coffee, 
and a few slices of bread,” and Haverly arose, 
ready for his day’s work. 

“ Lucky they don’t have a row here every 
morning, or you’d break up the landlord,” said 
Ben, as he started for the office. 


226 


CHAPTER XVI. 


A BOLD OUTRAGE 

Fortunately for Harry’s peace of mind — 
and purse — the thefts of packages from the 
trucks during transfer ceased. His vigilance was 
unrelaxed, for he had learned a costly lesson, 
but, as the weeks passed and his freight con- 
tinued to check up all right, he naturally forgot 
his troubles, and dismissed the matter from his 
mind with the thought that it was the work of 
some light-fingered thief tramping through the 
country. 

After a month or more of immunity from 
loss, he mentioned the matter to Jack Dodd, 
when the latter dropped in for a chat one day. 

“ I guess it was tramps,” said Jack. I can’t 
figure out anything else since my theory ran off 
the track. The hoboes are rounding up toward 
the cities now, to go into winter quarters, so 
you probably won’t be bothered any more this 
fall, and maybe never. The ones that pinched 
227 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


your stuff may take some other route in the 
spring. That is, supposing the tramp theory is 
correct,’’ Jack added, with a laugh. 

“ I think it is.” 

It’s a lucky thing for them that they let 
up,” continued Jack, “ or they would have been 
captured sure.” 

“ How do you know ? Who would have cap- 
tured them?” Harry asked, with considerable 
astonishment. 

“ Oh, I’ll tell you sometime, maybe,” replied 
Dodd, evasively, and that was all the informa- 
tion Harry could get out of him. 

With the cool fall weather came the butter 
and egg transfer from the north. Truck-loads 
of sixty-pound tubs of butter and stacks upon 
stacks of cases of eggs added to the young ex- 
press agent’s work, and made his job no sine- 
cure. 

Many a night he lifted tubs of butter until his 
back ached and he could almost see stars, and 
when he had finally finished checking up ready 
for the morning trains, it required an effort of 
the will to drag home his tired frame. 

Then he saw that the messengers had not 
overdrawn the picture of hard work. He was 
228 


A BOLD OUTRAGE 


earning his money now, with a vengeance. 
However, the boys applied a soothing balm to 
his feelings by telling him that the butter and 
egg run would let up in two or three months. 

“ Brace up ! said George Parker one night, 
when Harry had an unusually heavy run of these 
commodities. “ The cows will begin to dry up 
in December and the hens stop laying eggs; 
then you can have a rest and begin to fat up 
again.’' 

“ They can’t let up any too soon,” said Harry, 
with a heartfelt sigh. “ Butter and eggs are 
nice things to eat, but when a fellow has to lift 
two or three tons of them every day, he feels 
as if he could get along without them. At least 
I do.” 

Cheer up ! It will be Christmas in a couple 
of months, and then you will get a taste of real 
life,” said Parker, with a laugh. 

*Hs the transfer very heavy then?” 

'' Wait and see,” replied Parker, laconically, 
with a shrug of the shoulder. 

“ I , don’t mind a heavy transfer of pack- 
ages, but sixty-pound tubs of butter are wear- 
ing on a fellow’s back. People don’t send many 
of them for Christmas presents, do they ? ” 

229 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 

“ They send anything from a paper of pins 
to a cow. You will get every kind, size, and 
shape of package you could dream of in a year, 
and lots of things you wouldn’t dream of. 
Christmas catches more freak packages than the 
rest of the year.” 

“ Let them come. I can stand it if the rest 
of you can.” 

“ Yes, Christmas time is a snow-storm of 
packages, and almost makes a man wish he was 
a farmer or a bank president; but still, the re- 
lief a fellow feels on Christmas morning, when 
he doesn’t have a blessed thing in his car, is 
worth something,” mused Parker. 

“ I suppose the run is pretty light during hol- 
idays.” 

“Yes; not much to do that week. A day or 
two before New Year’s a few ^belated presents 
get into the run, but it’s nothing compared to 
the Christmas rush,” Parker replied. 

“ Oh, well, we’ll live through it,” said Harry, 
cheerfully. “ Fd about as soon be working as 
loafing, only I draw the line on sixty-pound 
tubs of butter,” he added, with a laugh. 

“ You’ll get used to it after awhile,” said 
Parker, as he prepared for bed. 

230 


A BOLD OUTRAGE 


Harry went on with the transfer, uncom- 
plainingly, although, when he caught a load of 
butter corded three tiers high on a platform 
truck, he did wish that farmers would turn their 
attention to other products besides butter. 

Mr. Cummings, the route agent, came out 
during the butter and egg run, and, when he 
saw the work that Harry performed without a 
murmur of complaint, he could not help but ad- 
mire the young fellow’s tireless patience. 

“ You don’t find your job much of a snap 
these days,” he remarked, one night, after he had 
watched the transfer. 

“ No, sir, but the work has to be done,” re- 
turned Harry, respectfully, as he wearily checked 
over his way-bills. 

“ That’s the way I like to hear a boy talk,” 
remarked his superior, with a pleased look. 
‘‘ Some lads of your age would be continually 
kicking and growling and sending in complaints 
to the general office.” 

“ I never could discover the good in growl- 
ing or complaining over something that must be 
done,” returned Harry, as he deftly tipped up 
a tub of butter to get the address on the one 
beneath. 


231 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


“ That is the right way to look at a disagree- 
able task, but lots of people don’t see it that 
way. Do the messengers ever help you check 
these butter and egg runs ? 

“Sometimes; but the incoming messenger is 
generally so tired these days that he tumbles 
right into bed, and the others have been asleep 
for hours. Andrews, who just came in, will 
go to bed soon as he gets his lunch.” 

“ I know they must be tired. I’ve been there 
many a time. Hand me your way-bills, and I’ll 
check while you call. It will seem like old 
times,” said Mr. Cummings, kindly. 

“ Thank you,” and Harry handed over the 
way-bills, and proceeded to call the freight 
while his superior checked it. 

It was nearly three o’clock in the morning 
when they had completed their task. 

“ There, that is more night work than I have 
done for years. Let’s go to bed,” remarked Mr. 
Cummings, with a yawn. 

“ Thanks to you, sir, for your kindness,” 
said Harry, as he placed the way-bills in the 
transfer book. “ I’ll write them up in the morn- 
ing. I’m too tired to think.” 

“All right. You have done enough for one 
232 


A BOLD OUTRAGE 

session. Good night,” and the kind-hearted 
route agent went to the depot hotel, while Harry 
wearily wended his way home. 

He was asleep ere his head had fairly touched 
the pillow, and he never stirred until Phil had 
vigorously ;shaken him twice, and shouted 
“ Breakfast! ” in his ear. 

“ What ails those farmers, anyhow ? ” he 
drawled. Can’t they raise anything but but- 
ter ? How many more tubs to come out ? ” 

“ Harry, wake up ! It’s breakfast-time,” and 
Phil shook his big brother so thoroughly this 
time that the troubled dreams wafted hence, 
and he awoke. 

'‘Hello, Phil! What do you want?” and 
Harry rubbed his eyes sleepily. 

“ Want you to come to breakfast, of course. 
We are eating.” 

“What? Is it breakfast-time already? 
Seems to me I haven’t been asleep five minutes,” 
and Harry sprang out of bed and began to dress, 
yawning and gaping sleepily. 

Ten minutes later he was seated at the break- 
fast-table with his mother and four animated, 
wriggling interrogation-points. 


233 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT ^ 


“ Oh, Harry ! We have the loveliest pan- 
cakes,” cried Mary. 

“ Good ! Just my size. Lovely pancakes are 
the thing. Are they blonde or brunette ? ” he 
inquired, brightening up. 

“ Brunette, I guess. Have a hot one,” re- 
plied Mary, passing the plate. 

“ This one is a little too much on the brunette 
order; it’s burned a little,” said Mrs. Baker, 
with a laugh. 

“ You were talking in your sleep when I 
shook you. You kept asking about tubs. What 
kind of tubs did you mean ? ” queried Phil, but- 
tering a hot pancake. 

Wash-tubs, of course,” volunteered Alice. 
‘‘ What other kind of tubs are there? ” 

“ Mrs. O’Malley, who washes for the Sey- 
mours, didn’t get her tub by express, ’cause I 
saw her buy it at the grocery store,” said Jimmy. 

“ Alice, Alice, don’t take such large mouth- 
fuls,” said Mrs. Baker, reproachfully. “ How 
many times have I told you to cut your cake 
in small pieces ? ” 

“ Like this ? ” queried Alice, demurely, cut- 
ting off a bit of cake the size of a squash seed 
and holding it up for inspection. 

234 


A BOLD OUTRAGE 


'' Oh, a little larger than that ; but don’t fill 
your mouth so full. You can’t chew it prop- 
erly. 

Here, Harry, are some hot ones. You get 
the top cake, for you work hard,” and Mary 
came in from tlie kitchen with a steaming plate 
of cakes. 

“ Thank you,''little sister,” and he gave her a 
loving pinch and took the proffered cake. 

“ And I get the next one, ’cause I’m the lit- 
tlest,” cried Alice, eagerly. 

“ Wouldn’t it look nicer and more ladylike 
for you to offer the next one to one of the 
others ? ” said her mother, gently. 

'' Then I wouldn’t get so much to eat,” re- 
plied Alice, frankly. 

Harry laughed. 

“ There’s honest childhood for you. No de- 
ceit there. She wants it because she wants it,” 
and he looked at his small sister with a twinkle 
in his eye., 

“ You must learn to think of somebody else 
as well as yourself,” said Mrs. Baker, with 
kindly reproof. 

Alice looked somewhat disconcerted. 


235 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


“ I was hungry/' she said at length, with a 
slightly shamefaced look. 

We are all hungry, but we mustn't be self- 
ish about it," and Mrs. Baker took the plate and 
went after more cakes. In a few moments she 
returned, and fresh cakes were distributed. 

‘‘ Harry, you look tired. Are you working 
harder than usual ? " and she looked affection- 
ately at her eldest son. 

“ Yes, the work has been much harder of 
late, but I hope it won't last long." 

What is the cause of it? " 

“ The butter and egg run is unusually heavy 
these days. Just half a swallow for a top dress- 
ing," and Harry passed his cup. 

Do butter and eggs run ? " queried Alice. 

They seem to, and all run in this direction," 
he returned, gravely. * 

How can they run without any legs ? " 
asked Alice. 

“ I know. They run by express," put in 
Jimmy, eager to air his knowledge. 

Do butter and eggs come in wash-tubs ? " 
queried Alice again, referring to the original 
subject. 

“No, butter comes in small tubs, called but- 
236 


A BOLD OUTRAGE 


ter-tubs, and eggs come in cases/’ replied 
Harry, kindly. 

‘‘ Little tubs like we wash our doll clothes 
in ? ” she persisted. 

** Oh, no ! Hardly that small,” he laughed. 

They hold sixty or seventy pounds of butter, 
and are made for that purpose; but here comes 
Mary with more cakes. Now get down to busi- 
ness, and give mother the top one. Always 
remember to look out for her first.” 

But Mrs. Baker held up her hands. 

“No more, thanks. I have plenty.” 

“ About two more does me,” said Harry, 
taking off the steaming cakes. 

“ I’m full,” announced Jimmy, getting away 
from the table with more alacrity than grace. 

“ Me, too,” and Phil placed his knife and 
fork parallel on his plate, and followed Jimmy’s 
example. 

“ Mary, don’t fry any more. They are all 
through, and Alice, I want you to run over 
before school and borrow Mrs. Burson’s De- 
lineator. I want to look at the cloak and jacket 
patterns. I’ve got to make you girls a cloak or 
jacket for winter. Here, Alice, you forgot to 
put your knife and fork where they belong.” 

237 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


I forgot/’ replied Alice, and she dutifully 
returned and placed, her knife and fork side by 
side as Phil had done. 

She lingered a moment, and finally said, hesi- 
tatingly : 

“ I tore my dress a little bit under the arm.” 

Mrs. Baker held up her hands in astonish- 
ment. ‘‘ What ? That new school dress ? ” 

‘‘ Yes’m.” 

“ How did you do it ? ” 

Playing crack-the-whip,” confessed Alice, 
looking at Phil and Jimmy. 

“ Alice Baker, do you play crack-the-whip 
with a lot of rough boys ? ” and her mother 
tried to look severely reproving. 

Yes’m, sometimes,” and Alice twisted about 
on one foot, while Phil and Jimmy tee-heed, 
softly. 

“ Pm astonished at you,” and Mrs. Baker 
tried her best to keep a straight face, while 
Harry’s eyes danced. 

'' I wouldn’t have tored it, but they put us 
little ones down at the end of the line, where 
we get the hard knocks,” said Alice, indig- 
nantly, with an accusing look at Phil, while 
Harry ha-ha-ed outright. 

238 


A BOLD OUTRAGE 


Well, don’t play that any more. It’s too 
rough for little girls.” 

I won’t let her do it again, mother,” said 
Phil, repentantly, but she wanted to get down 
at the end, so we let her.” 

That’s the way to talk, Phil. Good-by,” 
said Harry, heartily, and he was gone. 

He had just finished getting his morning run 
in shape when Mr. Cummings, who had risen 
late, came in from breakfast. 

“ Well, how do you feel this morning after 
your hard night’s work ? ” he inquired. 

All right. Never felt better,” was the cheery 
reply, as Harry pulled his truck out on the plat- 
form ready for the train. 

“ Young muscles don’t stiffen up from night 
work like old ones. Twenty-five years ago it 
wouldn’t have bothered me, but I couldn’t stand 
it now. Who comes in this morning?” 

Thompson. And here comes Martin, to 
take the run out. A little late, Tom,” as the be- 
lated messenger trotted around the corner of the 
hotel. 

“ Yes, so I see. Here’s the train right on top 
of us. Got my run, Harry? All right. Much 
obliged,” and Tom Martin threw his coat over 

239 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


his arm and walked along by the truck as Num- 
ber 6 whistled. 

A familiar hiss of air and the train rumbled 
by and came to a stop as Thompson opened the 
sliding side door of his car. The messenger safe 
and freight run were loaded in, and Harry 
stepped inside a moment as usual to see what 
was in the car. 

“ Hello, Gus. What sort of an animal have 
you in this box ? ” 

‘‘ That’s an Australian Two-Guesses-Com- 
ing,” replied Thompson, indifferently, as he slid 
out his safe. 

“ It’s homely enough to be anything. Looks 
like a cross between a wart-hog and the Demo- 
cratic jackass,” remarked Tom, giving Thompson 
a little rub on his politics as he hung up his coat, 
and proceeded to don his working clothes. 

“ Maybe it is. It’s going to New York, where 
all the cranks live, except a few of the worst, 
that put up in Chicago,” and Gus started for the 
office as Mr. Cummings called good-by to Harry, 
and the train rolled away. 

That night Harry went to attend Number 3 
as usual. On the night transfer he carried a can- 
vas sack suspended around his neck, in which he 
240 



“ HE . . . SAW A MAN SPRING UPON THE PLATFORM OF 
THE NEAREST COACH.” 




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A BOLD OUTRAGE 


placed his money run. It was simply a precau- 
tionary measure, enabling him to keep the 
money immediately under his eye. 

Olmstead was the messenger that night. 
When they had transferred the freight and 
Harry was ready to return to the office, Olmstead 
handed him his run, saying in a low tone: 

“ There’s a five-thousand-dollar money pack- 
age in with the rest. Don’t let it get away from 
you.” 

I’ll try not to.” And Harry placed the run 
in his sack and buckled the strap. 

The platform was not very dark, and passen- 
gers and railway employees were passing and re- 
passing. 

Harry was well away from the express-car 
when he suddenly felt a tug at his back; the 
strap around his neck was severed by a keen 
knife, and he felt the precious sack jerked away 
from him. 

He wheeled instantly and saw a man spring 
upon the platform of the nearest coach. 

In a flash Harry realized what had been done, 
and leaped after the fellow, yelling at the top of 
his voice: 

Thieves ! Robbers ! Help ! ” 


241 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


Then followed a scene of confusion. The 
passers nearest Harry knew that some outrage 
had been committed. They saw the two flying 
figures and instinctively joined in the chase, yell- 
ing, “ Stop thief.'’ The sound of hurrying feet 
came from all directions, as men came running 
up to learn the cause of the trouble. 

Olmstead, from his car, heard the cry, and, 
looking out, saw Harry’s truck-load of freight 
standing there and saw men springing upon the 
cars. Then the truth flashed upon him and he 
muttered : 

“ The boy’s been robbed again, sure as shoot- 
ing. I hope it isn’t the money, but I can’t leave 
this car to help him.” 

“Where is it? What is it? Who is it?” a 
dozen men cried in a breath. 

“ The express agent has been robbed. The 
thief ran out into the yards,” somebody cried. 

The crowd waited to hear no more, but 
swarmed across the coach platforms and out 
among the freight-cars, looking eagerly for 
somebody or something, they hardly knew what. 

Harry was hard after the flying thief as the 
latter sprang across the coach and dashed down 
through the yards. 

242 


A BOLD OUTRAGE 


Thoughts of his great loss lent wings to his 
feet, and he gained upon the fugitive. He had 
chased the latter a car-length, when he suddenly 
remembered his revolver. Drawing it, he tried 
to get a running aim, and fired just as the fellow 
dodged under a freight-car. 

Harry unhesitatingly plunged after, but when 
he crawled out on Tie other side, the thief was 
nowhere in sight. 

He yelled ‘‘ Thieves ” to attract attention, and 
a score of men appeared upon the scene. 

“What is it?’’ 

“ A man cut the straps of my express-sack and 
ran off with it. He just dodged out from under 
this car. Scatter through the yards. He’s prob- 
ably hiding among the box cars,” said Harry, 
breathlessly. 

“Was there much in the sack?” some one 
asked, curiously. 

“ Yes, a lot of money,” and at that magic 
word the crowd melted away and scattered 
through the yards, hoping to catch the thief and 
gain a reward from the express company. 

Presently Number 3 pulled out, for passenger 
and mail trains cannot stop to catch thieves. Its 
departure allowed the depot lights to shine out 

243 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


in the yards, and men could be seen everywhere, 
peering under, around, and between freight-cars, 
looking for the vanished thief, but in vain. After 
half an hour’s fruitless search, Harry remem- 
bered that he had left his truck-load of freight 
out upon the platform, entirely unguarded. 

With a heavy heart he hastened back, but his 
truck was gone. He went to the office only to 
find everything dark and silent, and the door 
locked. Just then one of the night men passing 
by said: 

“ Your messengers took care of the freight. 
They took it in the office and then went out in the 
yards to help hunt for that fellow. Did you get 
any trace of him?” 

No,” returned Harry, wearily, and crossed 
the tracks again to continue the search. 

It was a hopeless task. Hundreds of freight- 
cars were scattered everywhere, making an ideal 
hiding-place for an expert thief. 

Another hour’s search, and Harry, together 
with Andrews, Brown, and Haverly, whom he 
had met in the yards, reluctantly returned to the 
office. 

It seemed to Harry as if the joy had gone out 
of his life. He realized that it would take years 
244 


A BOLD OUTRAGE 

of hard work to repay such an amount of money 
to the company, and the thoughts of it fairly 
made him sick for the moment. No wonder he 
stumbled along wearily without a word. 

Never mind, Harry. You’ll come out of it 
all right. You’re young, and it isn’t like losing 
a leg or an arm,” said Sam Andrews, kindly. 

“ No ; I suppose f ought to be glad that it isn’t 
any worse,” he returned, in a tired way, as he 
unlocked the office door. 

“ Well, I’m tired,” remarked Haverly, fling- 
ing himself into a chair as Harry turned up the 
lamps. 

“ So am I. But I wouldn’t mind that if we 
had only found that rat of a thief,” said Ben 
Brown, dropping into another chair. 

Neither would I.” 

Harry was too tired and discouraged to talk, 
but gave himself up to solid misery. 

The messengers were sincerely sorry for his 
great misfortune, but there was little consola- 
tion to be offered. 

What’s this, Harry? Has there been more 
stealing?” and Tom Purdy burst into the 
room. 

‘‘Yes, Tom, and it’s a big steal this time,” 

245 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


replied the former, dully, as he motioned Tom to 
a chair. 

No time to sit down now. Have you been 
all over the yard and looked into every box car? 
The critter will probably jump a freight and get 
out of the yard to-night,” and the energetic con- 
ductor paced the room anxiously. 

Fifty men have been through the yards and 
looked everywhere, but not a trace of the fellow 
has been found.” 

It’s a shame the company doesn’t do some- 
thing to stop this business. If I were agent 
here. I’d raise a howl that would stir them up 
up-stairs,” said Tom, wrathfully. 

Ben Brown started to speak, but just then the 
door opened and two men came into the room. 

“Hello, Dick. What have you got there?” 
called Purdy. 

“Is this yours, Harry?” asked the man ad- 
dressed as Dick, holding out a canvas sack. 

Harry took one look and bounded to his feet. 
It was his stolen express sack. Another bound 
and he was by Dick Farley’s side and was clutch- 
ing the sack. 

“ Is there anything in it? ” he gasped, a wild 
hope lighting up his face. 

246 


A BOLD OUTRAGE 


“ Yes; a bundle of way-bills and money pack- 
ages tied together. We haven’t examined it, but 
I knew right away that it belonged to the express 
company.” 

Harry dove into the sack, and bringing out the 
package, untied it with feverish eagerness. A 
thick package caught his eye and he looked at it 
long enough to see the figures ‘‘ $5,000 ” upon 
one corner of the^big envelope. 

The revulsion of feeling from misery to joy 
was so sudden and great that he sank into a 
chair and stared about, mechanically clutching 
the money. 

‘‘ Dick, how can J ever thank you ? ” and the 
young expressman’s eyes were swimming and 
his head dizzy with joy. 

Every man was upon his feet and crowding 
around in wonder and amazement. 

“ You can give him half and then be ahead,” 
laughed Sam Andrews. 

‘‘ He won’t give him one cent,” said Tom 
Purdy, energetically. ‘‘ Dick Farley isn’t the 
man to take advantage of a fellow’s misfortune. 
Sit down and tell us how you got it,” and Tom 
motioned to a couple of chairs. The young 
brakeman dropped into a chair, and said : 

247 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


‘‘We was getting ready to go out on 6i. Jim 
and I was walking the length of the train to see 
that everything was all right, when we noticed 
a fellow trying to climb into an empty. We was 
on to him before he knew it. Jim grabbed him 
and the critter pulled a knife. But my pardner 
here is a scrapper, and he knocked him down 
before he could get action on himself. 

“ I saw him drop something when he went 
down, and picked up this sack. Before Jim 
could grab him, he dodged under a car and got 
away. I saw by the lantern that it was express 
stuff, and tumbled right away that we’d run into 
the fellow that everybody was hunting for. 
I knew it was no use trying to catch him, so 
we brought this plunder to the office. That’s 
all there is to it. They’re holding the train 
for us now. Glad to help you out of the scrape, 
Harry. I don’t want any of the money, and I 
know my pardner doesn’t,” and the sturdy 
young brakeman arose to go. 

“ You boys have helped me out of a bad hole, 
and I’ll try never to forget it,” said Harry, 
gratefully, holding out his hand. 

“ Don’t mention it,” was the hearty response. 
There was a general hand-shake, and the two 


A BOLD OUTRAGE 


brakemen left the office to go out on their 
run. 

Boys, I can’t realize it all yet,” said Harry, 
with a pent-up sigh of relief. 

‘‘ Check it over and see if everything is there,” 
suggested Purdy. 

There were only a few money packages, and, 
upon checking, none were found missing. 

I guess George Parker is about right on 
your luck,” said Ben Brown, dryly. “ That beats 
anything I ever heard of for pure luck.” 

Better to be born lucky than rich,” replied 
Andrews, with a yawn. 

“ Well, Harry, Pm mighty glad you got out 
of it so easy,” said Tom, heartily, holding out 
his hand. 

“ Thank you, Tom. I know you are,” re- 
turned the young man, gratefully, and the con- 
ductor was gone. 

“ Go to bed, boys, and Pll check my freight 
run and then lie down on the cot till morning,” 
said Harry. 

The freight run checked up all right, and 
Harry stretched out upon his cot, but not to 
sleep. He was too happy. He lived over the 
events of the night time and again. They 
249 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


seemed more like a troubled dream than an ac- 
tual occurrence. 

Presently, daylight came peeping in at the 
windows, and he arose and took a walk in the 
cool air before breakfast. 

He held a reception all day in the office, re- 
ceiving congratulations upon his luck and good 
fortune. But that night’s experience taught him 
a lesson that he did not forget. Thereafter, 
when he had a money run of any consequence 
at night, he found somebody to walk by the 
truck and help guard it until it was locked in 
the safe. 


250 


CHAPTER XVIL 


AN OLD RELIC 

As winter drew on the question of properly 
heating tlie ofhce became another thorn in the 
young agent’s side. 

The stove sent out by the company was a 
sorry affair. It had been sent up from the St. 
Louis office, where it had been stored away and 
forgotten for many years, a relic of former 
times. 

When Haverly’s bedroom scheme cropped up, 
and the call went down to St. Louis for bed- 
steads, that old stove was resurrected and sent 
along to warm the office. It answered admi- 
rably in the summer, for they needed no fire, but 
when the cool weather came on, the agent and 
messengers found that a little artificial heat was 
necessary, so the old stove, which had been set 
one side, was put up and a fire built in it. 

It was a seedy-looking affair, full of cracks 

251 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


and holes, and not much larger than a coal- 
scuttle. 

Of course, during the mild fall weather it was 
only necessary to take the chill off the room, 
which it did all right, but as fall merged into 
winter, it failed to do its duty, and the mes- 
sengers and agent went shivering around the 
room in disgust. 

Express messengers, as a rule, are a very in- 
dependent set of men, and the group that gath- 
ered around that little rusty old stove was no 
exception. Their remarks were freely given 
and very expressive. 

They could not blame Mr. Cummings, the 
route agent; for, having been out and seen that 
it did not fill the bill, he tried to get them a 
bigger and better one, but in vain. The super- 
intendent, Mr. Lambert, who watched over the 
affairs of the company very closely, thought 
they could get along with it, and so the matter 
stood. 

Mr. Cummings came out again at the begin- 
ning of cold weather, and, during the evening, 
the messengers on the lay-over brought up again 
the subject of a new stove. George Parker said, 
looking at the old relic in a disgusted way; 

252 


AN OLD RELIC 


“ Have we got to put up with this thing all 
winter? ’’ 

“ Fm afraid so/’ returned the route agent, 
quietly. 

‘‘ It’s a shame. We’ll freeze to death when 
cold weather comes. Sam Andrews says that 
stove was in use in one of the St. Louis offices 
twenty years before the battle of Bull Run. It’s 
just an old box^of rust with a little iron ore in 
it. It won’t weigh twenty pounds,” and Par- 
ker’s disfavor increased as he talked. 

“ I know you need a bigger and better stove, 
and I’ve talked to Lambert about it, but he 
wants to make this one do if he possibly can. 
As an example of his way of figuring, the other 
day, when I brought up the need of a new stove, 
he said : 

‘‘ ‘ Cummings, if you were placed in a cabin 
out on the prairie during a blizzard, with no 
heat but what you could get from that stove 
with plenty of coal, could you keep from freez- 
ing to death ? ’ 

“ Of course I said : ‘ I suppose I could.’ 

“ Then said he, ‘ We’ll make it do.’ 

“ I saw it was no use to argue further, so 
dropped the matter. If you can figure out any 
253 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


way of getting him to change his mind, you 
are welcome to, for I know you need a bigger 
and better stove.’ ^ 

George Parker raised his finger impressively. 

Right there, Mr. Cummings, is where you 
made a grievous mistake.” 

‘‘How is that?” 

“ You should have told him that you would 
surely wake up in the morning frozen to death. 
Tell him this stove is a half-brother to the ‘ cold 
safe.’ Did you ever hear that safe story?” 

The route agent shook his head. 

“ Well, I’ll tell it to you, and you tell it to 
Lambert the first time you see him.” 

“ Go ahead. But I won’t make any rash 
promises,” smiled Mr. Cummings. 

Parker’s safe story 

“ One time, a safe drummer on his rounds 
wandered into a new town, and, of course, soon 
had a merchant cornered, and was trying his 
best to sell him a safe. 

“ It so happened that the man needed a safe 
very badly, but he was a crank on the subject. 
A few years before he had been burned out, 
and when he opened the safe his books and 
254 


AN OLD RELIC 


papers were found charred to a crisp. Of course 
the books held his accounts, and the loss of them 
was a serious blow to him. The safe was 
supposed to be fire-proof, and the fact that it 
wasn’t soured him so that he had refused to buy 
another up to this time. Safe men couldn’t 
touch him. 

This drummer, however, told him such 
rosy stories abouj: the beauties of his safe that 
he finally succeeded in getting the merchant in- 
terested once more in the matter. 

About that time, in comes another safe 
drummer with a different brand of goods. He 
got scent of the game mighty quick, and the 
balance of the day those two drummers didn’t 
let that merchant have a moment’s peace. They 
took turns boring away at him, showing the 
merits of their respective goods, and quoting 
special low prices. 

Finally, toward night he got tired of it, and 
called them both back to his desk. 

‘‘ ‘ Now look here,’ said he, ' there is no use 
of taking up any more of my time, or beating 
about the bush any longer. You fellows both 
know what I want. I want a safe that will 
protect books, papers, money, or, in fact, any 

255 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


inflammable thing from fire. A hot fire, too, 
mind you. One that will almost make the iron 
sizzle. I don’t propose to buy any more ovens 
to put books in; might as well leave them on 
the shelf. As I told you both, I want the safe 
that will stand the most heat, and still keep cool 
inside. I don’t care a cent for the burglar-proof 
part. If a burglar wants to get into a safe, he’ll 
get in. I just want fire protection. 

‘ Now my proposition is this : 

“ ^ At the factory you evidently have some 
kind of a fire test, as to how much heat the safes 
will stand without scorching things inside. Am 
I right?’ 

“ Both drummers nodded eagerly, and began 
to get out their note-books to record a sale. 

“ The merchant continued : 

“ ‘ Well and good, then. Now what I pro- 
pose to do is this : 

“ ‘ Each of you give me your factory fire test, 
and I’ll buy a safe of the man that has the best 
one. I don’t want any more safes that won’t 
stand heat. Isn’t that fair to both of you ? ’ 
They both looked perfectly joyful, and said, 
in the same breath : 

‘‘ ‘ That suits me.’ 

256 


AN OLD RELIC 


“ The merchant nodded to the second drum- 
mer, and said: 

“ ‘ Go ahead and give me your test.’ 

“ He cleared his throat, and said : 

“ ‘ When you have heard our fire test, you 
must agree that it is absolutely perfect. The 
composition filling in our safe is only known to 
three men, and it is positively non-inflammable, 
as you will agree ^hen you have heard our test. 
It is as follows : 

“ ‘ They take a common barnyard rooster 
and shut him in the safe, simply closing and 
locking the door as you would every night upon 
your books. No other precaution for his safety. 
Then a fire of white oak is built around the safe 
and kept roaring for twenty-four hours. Men 
are kept right there every minute, night and 
day, to see that the fire doesn’t cool. At the end 
of twenty-four hours the fire is cleared away, and 
when the safe has cooled down, the combina- 
tion is worked and the door swung open. In 
every case that rooster is found perfectly cool 
and comfortable ; flaps his wings and crows 
unconcernedly, walking out and scratching for 
worms in an offhand way, as if he had ‘just got 
off the roost. That’s our test, and Fd like to 
257 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


hear it beaten to prove a cool safe in a hot at- 
mosphere/ 

“ The merchant was highly pleased with the 
test, and said: 

“ ‘ That’s the kind of a safe to have. I would 
have been several thousand dollars ahead, with 
one of that make, when I burned out. I guess 
you get this order all right, but we’ll act fair 
with this other man and let him give his test.’ 

The other fellow said : 

“ ‘ My dear sir, I really cannot permit you to 
throw your money away upon such a safe. It 
is second-class. His safe, I admit, does fairly 
well in a moderate fire; but bless you, where 
would it be in the fire test we give ours ? Simply 
a melted scrap heap. We test our safes. 

“ ‘ Now listen, and I’ll tell you what I saw 
with my own eyes a week ago to-day, just before 
leaving the factory on this trip. And I will say, 
furthermore, that every safe of our make is 
tested for fire the same way.’ 

“ ‘ I was getting my sample-case ready for 
the trip when the manager came to me, and 
said : 

“ ‘ “ The workmen are just going to take the . 
fire away from one of the safes we are testing 
258 


AN OLD RELIC 


and open up another that has just cooled down. 
Do you want to see it? You don’t get to the 
factory very often.” 

‘‘ ‘ Of course I wanted to see it. I hadn’t 
been to the factory for a year and a half. On 
the way, I asked him what fire test they used 
now. He said that for the last year or more 
they had put in a rooster and a pound of butter. 
These were subjected to an intense heat from 
anthracite coal for one solid week. “ You will 
soon see the condition of the interior of the safe 
after all that heat,” he said. 

“ ‘ When we arrived at the testing-room they 
had just pulled the coals away from one safe, 
and it stood there, a solid rose red from heat. 

“ ‘ Here is one they are just going to open. 
It was just as red as this one, a few hours ago,’’ 
the manager said, pointing to the other side of 
the room. Just as we got there, the workman 
turned the combination and swung open the 
door. Sure as I stand here, that rooster was 
frozen stiff, and the man that opened the door 
had his eye knocked out by a frozen butter 
splinter.” ’ ” 

A quiet laugh, and Mr. Cummings shook his 
head, and said : 


259 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 

“ It wouldn’t do any good to tell Lambert 
that yarn. He would get around it some way.” 

Did you find out before you left whether 
that frozen rooster man sold the safe or not ? ” 
asked Ben Brown. 

“ Tradition says that the merchant gave him 
an order for two safes and then fainted,” and 
Parker’s features twisted into an inscrutable knot. 

“ Probably fainted when he wondered how he 
was ever going to pay for them,” mused Ben. 

‘‘ Well, laying all jokes aside, I think Mr. 
Lambert is a little too stingy for any use,” said 
George Parker, ‘‘ and he was a messenger him- 
self, once. I wonder if he thinks they are 
warmer-blooded than they used to be.” 

Probably the stockholders are clamoring 
for more dividends, and he must cut down ex- 
penses,” put in Ben. 

“ The stockholders are liable to have to pay 
for a job lot of frozen messengers, to say noth- 
ing of a fancy gilt-edged agent in the bloom of 
youth,” and Parker twisted his face into another 
knot, as he nodded toward Harry. 

“ Oh, the agent won’t freeze to death, al- 
though it probably won’t be very hot in here,” 
and Harry looked up from his work and laughed. 

260 


AN OLD RELIC 

'‘If Mr. Lambert could see the stove, I am 
satisfied he would send a better one,” said Mr. 
Cummings, “ for ' seeing is believing,’ you 
know. But of course he won’t make a special 
trip out here, and he doesn’t seem to want to 
trust our judgment; so I don’t see what we can 
do about it.” 

“ What’s the matter with sending the stove 
in to the general office, and let Lambert see it? ” 
suggested George Parker. 

" It would fall to pieces on the way, and he 
would claim that it never was a stove,” said Ben. 

" Then make a plaster cast of the little old 
barnacle, and send that in.” 

“ Send in a photograph of it,” suggested 
Harry. 

But Parker withered him with a look. " Child, 
didn’t you know you couldn’t photograph . cold ? 
This old stove might take a good picture. You 
can’t tell. I’ve seen the homeliest kind of people 
take as good a picture as I did,” and a silence 
fell upon the little group. 

" Let Parker go in and explain the beauties of 
this stove to Lambert,” suggested Harley Burt. 

" I’d lose too much time or I would. But 
pshaw! if a dozen messengers, with a lucky 
261 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


man for agent, can’t figure out a decent stove 
before the blizzards come, they’d better quit,” 
and the subject was^ dropped for the present. 

As winter drew on the cold increased, and it 
was found impossible to keep the office com- 
fortable with the wretched little apology for a 
stove. Mr. Lambert, the superintendent, how- 
ever, would not consent to sending a better one. 

His mistaken parsimony nettled the messen- 
gers, and they set their wits to work to see what 
could be done. 

Tom Purdy had been given A1 Manly’s run, 
the latter going with the “ Lake Shore,” and 
Tom rarely failed to stop at the office a moment. 
The express office stove became a standing joke 
on the division, and the passenger men on every 
run dropped into the office to ridicule the old 
relic. 

The weather grew colder and colder. 

Every relay of messengers discussed the mat- 
ter from every standpoint, but could arrive at no 
solution of the problem, and were compelled to 
shiver the time away as best they could. 

Finally, Charlie Conroy, the passenger con- 
ductor, who had long since forgiven Gus Thomp- 
son the egg trick, dropped into the office one 
262 


AN OLD RELIC 


cold morning to loaf a few minutes, and inci- 
dentally relieve himself of his usual batch of 
fresh stories. 

After listening to the complaints of the shiv- 
ering messengers, he remarked, in an offhand 
way : 

“ Why, I can get you a new stove. Easiest 
thing in the world.’’ 

“ Do it, Chaflie, and we’ll be your Uncle ! ” 
everybody cried. 

“ All right. Wait till I catch Glasser’s car.” 
Mr. Glasser, it will be remembered, was the 
railway division superintendent. 

What has Glasser got to do with it? ” and 
everybody looked disappointed. 

“ I’ll show you,” and that was all they could 
get out of him. 

One morning shortly after, Ben Brown came 
in on the run, and his face was a full moon. 

This is the morning we do business,” he 
chuckled. This is Conroy’s train, and we have 
Glasser’s private car tacked on behind. Look 
out for company pretty quick ! ” and his eyes 
danced. 

Paul Drake and Jackman were on the lay- 
over, and the former drawled out : 

263 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


‘‘ Let ’em come. But I didn’t know that Glas- 
ser was bigger than our superintendent.” 

‘‘ You just lay low and watch Conroy. He 
has a scheme,” returned Ben, as he and Harry 
hustled his safe off the trucks and checked his 
run. 

A few moments later the jolly conductor, ac- 
companied by his superintendent, Mr. Glasser, 
walked into the express office. 

The former was brisk, bustling, and full of 
business; the latter, grave, thoughtful, and at- 
tentive, listening to the words of his subordinate 
in silence. 

Now this is the stove I spoke of, Mr. Glas- 
ser, and I really don’t think the railroad com- 
pany ought to allow it here; it isn’t safe. The 
life of it is burned out. These boys tell me that 
it has been in use for twenty-five or thirty years 
down in the St. Louis offices. You can see 
where the fire comes out of these cracks. They’re 
liable to have a conflagration here any time, and 
there is our depot and big eating-house right 
next door. I don’t think we have any call to let 
the express company endanger our property. 
What do you think about it?” 

Needless to say, Harry and the messengers, 
264 


AN OLD RELIC 


who saw Conroy’s ruse to get them a stove, 
watched the superintendent’s face anxiously. 
With him it was simply a matter of business 
whether the express company should be to the 
expense of a new stove or the railway company 
continue to carry the risk of a conflagration. 
He asked a question or two, and looked the of- 
fice over carefully. 

Conroy went^ on : 

“You see that broken hinge; stove door just 
hanging. Some night after Baker has gone 
home and the messengers are all asleep here, 
that old broken door will fall down, coals pop 
out on the floor, and then a blaze. Then good-by 
to all our stuff around here. Everything’s 
wood, and it’ll burn like tinder.” 

Paul Drake, who was young and unsophis- 
ticated, here broke in: 

“ And it don’t give out any more heat than 
a hod full of coals.” 

A friendly unnoticed kick choked off his re- 
marks, and Frank Jackman pulled him into the 
back room, where he whispered in his ear: 

“ You shut up and let Conroy run this load of 
poles. Don’t you see it isn’t the frigidity of the 


265 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


old stove that Mr. Glasser cares about? It’s the 
dangerosity of the thing that interests him.” 

“ I see. There is also ^ dangerosity ’ that he 
can’t help us,” whispered Drake, skeptically. 

Fm afraid so, but it’s our only hope.” 

They returned to the other room just in time 
to hear Mr. Glasser say: 

“ I don’t consider it safe,” and without an- 
other word he walked briskly out of the office. 

That did a lot of good to bring him in here. 
He’ll go to his car and forget all about it,” said 
Jackman, reproachfully. 

“ Don’t you think it,” retorted Charlie Con- 
roy, emphatically. “ He’s gone right straight 
to the telegraph-office to wire Lambert to send 
out a new stove.” 

Maybe he has, but I have my doubts.” 

“If you don’t have a new stove here before I 
come back on my run, I shall be greatly fooled,” 
replied Conroy, as he went out. 

In an hour Harry received the following mes- 
sage : 

“ Carry all packages and furniture out of 
building. Put fire out of stove and take it down. 
Will send new stove on 5. Lambert.” 

266 


AN OLD RELIC 

Harry laughed, and read it aloud. 

What in the world could Glasser have 
said ? ’’ wondered Jackman. 

He evidently said something that woke up 
the camp, and we may thank Charlie Conroy 
for it,” remarked Ben Brown. 

“ That’s so. Charlie Conroy can have two 
chairs after thjs in this office. But I believe I’ll 
disobey Mr. Lambert’s orders and leave the 
things in the office,” and Harry smiled broadly, 
as he looked around. 

“ Yes, I think I should run the chances, see- 
ing as it’s only a few hours till train-time, and 
daylight, with four men on watch,” returned 
Ben Brown, gravely. 

We’ll take the old stove down and be ready 
for the new one,” said Harry. And they did. 

True to the promise of the telegram, a large 
new stove arrived on the afternoon train, and 
was welcomed with great rejoicing by everybody 
at the office. It was put up and a fire built in it 
at once, and the messengers’ troubles, so far as 
heat was concerned, were at an end. 


267 


CHAPTER XVIII. 

THE CHRISTMAS RUSH 

By the time the new stove had warmed the 
office thoroughly the messengers and Harry were 
in the midst of the ‘‘ Christmas rush.” It was 
the latter’s first experience of the kind, and he 
was forced to admit that the messengers had 
not colored the picture too highly. 

As the day that heralded the visit of the jolly 
St. Nicholas drew near, the flow of packages in- 
creased steadily. Messengers started out on 
runs with cars piled to the ceiling, and many of 
them were compelled to take an assistant to call 
the freight, in order to get their work done on 
time and be able to discharge the packages at 
the proper stations. 

Packages, packages everywhere, and nine- 
tenths of them Christmas presents. It seemed 
as if there must be at least one present for every 
man, woman, and child in the country. 

Weary, overworked messengers, transfer men, 
268 


THE CHRISTMAS RUSH 


and other employees toiled bravely on during the 
rush, joking and bantering their fellows, think- 
ing hopefully of the blessed Christmas morn 
when the rush would be over. 

Of course, in all this rush, bustle, and hurry, 
many packages were injured more or less in 
handling and transferring. It could not be 
otherwise. However, compared to the number 
carried, the cases of “ bad order ” were few. 
If a box or package were found to be leaking, 
showing that something had broken inside, the 
instructions were to open carefully, repack the 
best way possible, and send it on at once, the 
officials of the company having wisely decided 
that a Christmas box sent by loving hands 
should be hurried to its destination soon as pos- 
sible, even if it had suffered a mishap and were 
not in the best of order. Claims for damages 
could come in later. 

Orders were imperative not to hold any pack- 
ages supposed to contain Christmas presents, 
but hurry them through to their destination. 

Of course, Harry caught his quota of “ bad 
order” parcels, and was at an endless amount 
of extra work and trouble to get them off his 
hands and started on the way again. 

269 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


One afternoon shortly before Christmas he 
was unloading Phil Haverly’s run, when the 
latter said: 

Here’s a box that’s leaking. I expect we’ll 
have to open and repack. It goes north t6-night 
on the Dutchman. Smells good. You can see 
it dripping from this corner now.” 

“ Yes, we had better open it,” replied Harry. 
“ Something has broken and may spoil every- 
thing in the box. Soon as we check your run 
we’ll attend to it. Where is it going?” 

“ Way out in Montana. ‘ Fritz Schwanger,’ ” 
and Phil read the name upon the box. 

“ Irishman, evidently,” winked Harry, as he 
lifted out the box. 

“ It’s heavy, too,” he added. 

^^Yes, it weighs forty-five pounds. Some 
Irishman from Berlin gets it.” 

“ Too bad it’s broken, but we’ll fix it up the 
best we can,” said Harry, as he lifted out Hav- 
erly’s safe. 

‘‘ See that he gives the Dutchman a square 
deal. Don’t let him take part of the stuff for 
his kids,” called Parker, who took the run west. 

‘‘ No, I’ll watch him,” laughed Haverly, as 
they started for the office. 

270 


THE CHRISTMAS RUSH 


When the other work was out of the way, 
Harry opened the box, and the messengers gath- 
ered around to assist, and incidentally make 
comments. 

“ That’s kiimmel all right,” said Sam An- 
drews, sniffing the odor of the escaping liquid. 

“ What’s kiimmel ? ” asked Harry. “ That’s 
a new one on me.” 

Oh, it’s some kind of a German drink. Di- 
lute alcohol, spiced and sweetened, near as I can 
find out,” replied Andrews, as Harry lifted the 
cover of the box. 

It was packed full to the lid, and in one cor- 
ner reposed a brown gallon jug. This Andrews 
lifted out, and a thin aromatic liquid dripped 
upon the floor. 

“ There is your leak,” and he pointed to a 
slight crack in the jug. 

Get some bottles from the eating-house and 
repack it in them.” 

“ The bottom of the box is pretty well soaked. 
We’ll have to take out everything,” said Harry, 
ruefully surveying the moist condition of the 
contents. 

“ I’ll go and get something to put Andrews’s 
Dutch beverage in,” volunteered Ben Brown. 

271 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


‘‘ Good boy. Make yourself useful as well as 
ornamental/’ said Harry, as he dove down into 
the box and brought up a pie, strong with the 
odor of the escaped liquor. 

“ That reminds me of old times,” said An- 
drews, his eyes and mouth watering. 

“How is that?” and Harry lifted out an 
odd-shaped cake, covered with white frosting. 

“ The boxes of dainties we used to get from 
home in war time. It makes my mouth water to 
think of it, and my eyes, too,” he added. 
“ Pshaw, Pm getting foolish in my old age,” 
and the grizzled old veteran sprang up and 
walked to the window, where he stood gazing 
out upon the tracks, absently rubbing the mois- 
ture from his glasses. 

“ Here’s a present for some little girl,” said 
Harry, lifting out a home-made doll with beau- 
tifully embroidered clothes. 

“Is it spoiled?” asked Andrews, suddenly 
turning from the window. 

“ No. Part of the dress is a little damp from 
that stuff. And here’s a queer-looking cap.” 

“ That’s an old woman’s nightcap,” said 
Sam, with a laugh and a blush. 

“ Yes. Here’s a bit of paper pinned to it: 

272 


THE CHRISTMAS RUSH 


‘ For Grandma/ ” said Harry. “ And here is 
where the little folks come in,” and he unearthed 
a Jack-in-the-box and a rattle. Then a pair of 
knee pants, a big wooden pipe, packages of 
candy, oranges and apples, and a book printed in 
German. A number of other things were taken 
out, nearly everything being damp or permeated 
with the odor of the contents of the jug. 

‘‘ I declare, I feel as if I had been in some- 
body’s house and ransacked it while they were 
away from home,” said Harry, with a deprecat- 
ing laugh. 

“ It does seem like sacrilege, but it’s the only 
thing to do under the circumstances. Every- 
thing would have been ruined. Now we can dry 
things out and send them along in pretty good 
shape.” 

The moral in this case is very plain,” ob- 
served Phil Haverly ; “ never put liquor in with 
your Christmas presents.” 

Not unless it’s in the form of a solid,” re- 
marked Ben, who had found bottles and a funnel 
and was emptying the dripping contents of the 
jug into them. 

In the warm office the contents of the box 
were dried and repacked, the cover securely 

273 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


nailed, and the box sent on its way that night. 
As nothing more was ever heard from it, it was 
presumed that the precious package reached its 
destination in time to be opened by a merry 
party on the glorious Christmas morn. 

Occasionally a package, generally found to be 
a flimsy pasteboard box, would come to the 
transfer office, crushed and mutilated. It was 
straightened out the best way possible and hur- 
ried along. 

Two days before Christmas, Tom Martin, on 
the afternoon local, brought in a parrot. The 
cage had originally been covered with paper, but 
the latter had become torn, so that the bird was 
plainly visible. 

“ ‘ Take it up tenderly, lift it with care,’ ” re- 
marked Martin, gravely, as he handed out the 
bird. “ It goes north to-night. The tag says, 
‘ Feed and water.’ I would also suggest that you 
don’t allow the boys to swear around the office, 
as it is consigned to ‘ Miss Mehetabel Canners, 
Northfield, Minn.’ Evidently a maiden lady.” 

“ A parrot ! For the land’s sake ! Can’t they 
talk enough up in Minnesota without importing 
parrots ? ” said Harry, as he gingerly took the 
cage. 


274 


THE CHRISTMAS RUSH 


“ It has been very quiet so far. The only 
thing it has said was ‘ Oh, pshaw ! ' once when 
the car gave a lurch.” 

Sam Andrews, George Parker, and Frank 
Jackman were in the office when Harry and 
Martin brought in the run. 

“ Hello. What’s new ? ” cried Parker. 

Nothing but a parrot, and it doesn’t look 
very new,” replied Harry, as he set the cage 
upon the counter, and turned to assist Martin. 

“Local or transfer?” 

“ Transfer, of course. We can talk enough 
here without buying parrots.” 

“ Howdy do, Polly ? Are you hungry ? ” and 
Parker peered into the cage. Polly, however, 
was not inclined to be familiar, and only glared 
at him in silence. 

“Democrat or Republican?” teased Parker. 

Perfect silence from Polly. 

“ Oh, that parrot doesn’t talk to every farmer 
that comes along,” remarked Jackman. “ It’s 
probably seasick, anyhow, from its long ride.” 

All efforts to make the bird talk proved un- 
availing, and the messengers finally gave over 
teasing it. 

Harry brought a few dainties from the eating- 
275 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


house, and the parrot devoured them greedily. 
Then it sat upon the perch and glared about in 
silence. 

‘‘ It probably doesn’t say more than a half- 
dozen words, and has forgotten what little it 
does know,” remarked George Parker, in disgust 
at Polly’s unsociable attitude. 

“ It may have a larger vocabulary than you 
think, where it is acquainted,” Andrews ob- 
served. 

For half an hour the bird sat there in silence, 
perfectly motionless. Then it suddenly roused 
up and began to hop about on the perch. Sud- 
denly it squalled out: 

“ Hello, Sam, old boy. How do you stack 
up? ” 

If a bomb-shell had exploded without warning 
in the room, the surprise could not have been 
greater. Everybody stared. Then followed a 
shout of laughter, and George Parker said: 

‘‘ Ha ! An old friend of yours, Andrews.” 

Sam Andrews gave a short laugh. “ It looks 
that way, but I can’t recall its features.” 

“ Pull down your vest, Sam,” and the parrot 
hopped to and fro on its perch. 

‘‘ Well, ril be — ” then Andrews stopped and 
276 


• THE CHRISTMAS RUSH 


glared over his glasses at the offending bird, 
while the others almost collapsed with laughter. 

“ It evidently is on familiar terms with some- 
body by the name of Sam,” said Harry, when he 
could get his voice. 

Probably one of Andrews’s old friends down 
South during the war,” said Parker, who was 
enjoying the joke hugely. 

“ Put me in my little bed,” sang out a metallic 
voice. 

What do you think of its vocabulary now? ”. 
and Andrews quietly nudged Parker in the ribs. 

Sam’s a fool. Ha, ha ! ” and the green head 
with its hooked beak perked sidewise, with one 
eye blinking at the audience. 

Seems to be pretty well informed,” and a 
burst of laughter followed Parker’s retort. 

Its vocabulary seems to be more remarkable 
for quantity than quality,” said Tom Martin, 
who had drawn a chair to the window and was 
trying to make out his freight report. 

Father-r-r ! Supper’s ready. Hurry up, 
hurry up,” and the green head bobbed up and 
down as the speaker walked to and fro. 

That’s a nice bird to send an old maid for a 
Christmas present,” said Jackman, critically. 

277 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


“ Mary, where's the cat ? Dear me ! " clicked 
the feathered machine. Then silence for a mo- 
ment. 

''JHin’ll catch it; John'll catch it. He’s late," 
was the next announcement. 

We’re evidently getting the home talk of 
some family," laughed Harry. 

“ Wonder if it’s wound up like a clock ? 
Harry must have worked the combination when 
he fed it," Tom remarked. 

George Parker walked up to the cage. 

Polly talks too much." 

“ Oh, give us a rest," was the retort, and 
Parker turned away, shaking his sides. 

‘‘ Say, Horton’ll pull this place if you don’t 
make less racket," and Jack Dodd stood in the 
doorway. 

“ Come in. Jack. We’re having a free enter- 
tainment.” 

‘‘What is it?" and Jack looked around in- 
quiringly. 

“ Oh, some of the freak things that go by ex- 
press. This parrot is giving us its family his- 
tory; take a chair,’’ responded Harry. 

Jack seated himself, but from that instant the 


278 


THE CHRISTMAS RUSH 


perverse bird shut up like a clam. Not another 
word could it be induced to utter. 

“ You’re a parrot hoodoo,” laughed Harry, 
after they had waited a long time for a renewal 
of the monologue. 

“ It’s probably run down,” suggested Jack- 
man. 

“When does^ it leave?” asked Andrews. 

“ Olmstead takes it north on Number 3.” 

“ Better fit another paper over the cage and 
give it a chance to think up some more funny 
things to say. It’s talked out.” 

Harry waited a while longer, but the parrot 
still remained silent, and he recovered the cage, 
taking pains to leave space for the circulation of 
air. 

A few hours later it was again on its way, 
and that was the last they ever heard of it. 
They never knew whether the slangy, loud- 
talking bird was sent as a joke or a hona Me 
present. 

Harry and all of the messengers breathed a 
sigh of relief when the Christmas rush of pres- 
ents was finally over, and their work settled 
down to the ordinary level once more, although. 


279 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


to tell the truth, it was less wearing upon Harry 
than butter and egg experience. 

January brought the whirling snow-storms 
and the bitter cold winds, but he bore them 
bravely, and patiently performed his duties. 
Several times messengers were snowed in along 
the line. Two or three times he was left with 
only one man on the lay-over, and once was left 
entirely alone. Every messenger was out on the 
road somewhere along the line, battling with the 
snow-drifts. 

Harry expected to be obliged to lock his office 
and safe, and take out the run himself, but for- 
tunately a train struggled through the drifts 
before the opposite train was due, and he doubled 
back the messenger. Transferring heavy truck- 
loads of freight in the middle of the night, with 
the thermometer hanging around twenty below 
zero, was far from holiday sport, as the writer 
discovered years ago. 

Mr. Cummings came out twice during the 
worst of the snow and cold, and complimented 
Harry highly upon his pluck and persistence 
in braving the terrible weather. 

One disagreeable incident occurred in the 
office during the winter. Frank Jackman had 
280 


THE CHRISTMAS RUSH 


been transferred to another run temporarily, and 
his place was filled during his absence by a man 
named Dade Ashton. The latter party was from 
the southwest, and had been running into Kansas 
City. He made only two trips into Harry’s 
office, but that was sufficient. In fact, one too 
many. He was dubbed a crank by the other 
messengers and none of them liked him. 

They insisted that he was a little “ cracked.” 
And it must be admitted that he acted that way. 
One moment he was bland and genial as melted 
butter and sugar, the next he was a surly bear 
and wanted to fight his iJest friend at the slight- 
est provocation. 

For some reason he took a violent dislike to 
the young agent on his first run in, although 
Harry did nothing by word or act to incite his 
animosity. As the other messengers said, that 
was where the ‘‘ crank ” part came in. 

Harry felt relieved when he went out on his 
run, and mentioned his queer actions to some of 
the messengers. 

Needs a good thrashing,” growled Sam An- 
drews, who had little patience with that sort of 
people. Why didn't they keep him in Kansas 
City, where he belongs? We don't want him.” 

281 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


“ I don’t want to have any trouble with him, 
but he can’t run this office,” said Harry, firmly. 

Not while I’m around,” and the veteran’s 
eyes flashed in a belligerent way. 

In a few days Ashton came in again, this time 
on the night run. That particular run was very 
tiresome, from the amount of work to be done, 
and the messengers were pretty well spent when 
arriving at the office. 

The new man was unusually surly and cross 
that trip, and would barely give Harry a civil 
answer. Andrews was a light, restless sleeper, 
and frequently arose from his bed when Number . 
2 pulled in, dressed himself, and came out into 
the office for a chat with Harry and the incom- 
ing messenger. He was sitting by the stove, 
smoking, when they brought in the run that 
night. 

Harry checked Ashton in, although the work . 
was punctuated with frequent snarls and slight- 
ing remarks by the latter, causing Andrews to 
move uneasily in his chair. 

“ Where do you hang your clothes in this one- 
horse, country hole?” snapped Ashton, 

Harry answered him civilly and went on with 
his work. 


282 


THE CHRISTMAS RUSH 


But the new man seemed bent upon trouble 
with the young agent. He went on making 
slurring insinuations about the country office and 
agent, until even Harry’s placid temper could 
stand his insulting remarks no longer. 

He spoke up firmly and sharply: 

“ I’ll thank you to keep your mouth shut about 
the agent, Mr. Ashton. And if you don’t like 
this office, you can sleep in the hotel. It’s right 
around the corner.” 

Evidently that was what the ill-natured mes- 
senger was waiting for. 

Tell me to get out of the company’s office, 
will you? You little plough-jogger ! ” and with 
a frightful oath he sprang toward Harry with 
clenched, uplifted fist. But ere he could reach 
the unruffled young man, big Sam Andrews made 
one bound and was at the latter’s side, his fierce 
gray eyes gleaming with the fire of battle. 

“ Touch a hair of that boy’s head, and I’ll 
break your neck,” he growled. 

Ashton turned, and in his blind rage, without 
pausing to think of the consequences, dashed his 
fist in Andrews’s face. He probably regretted 
that hasty act to the end of his days. For the 
now thoroughly aroused messenger sprang upon 
283 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


him like a tiger, bore him to the floor, and his 
brawny fingers closed upon the prostrate man’s 
throat, until the staring eyes and protruding 
tongue told him to desist. He relaxed his grip, 
and when Ashton could get his breath he began 
to beg and whine. 

“ I didn’t mean anything,” he whimpered, as 
he got upon his feet. 

“You have a queer way of acting, for a man 
that doesn’t mean anything. You may consider 
yourself suspended. Give me your safe key,” 
said Harry, indignantly. 

Sam Andrews stood like a gladiator with flash- 
ing eyes and heaving breast, fairly itching for 
Ashton to again begin hostilities, but the latter 
was thoroughly cowed by the big messenger’s 
fierce onslaught. He advanced tremblingly to 
the counter and laid down his safe key. 

“ You had better sleep in the hotel, Mr. Ash- 
ton. It will be pleasanter for the boys,” said 
Harry, quietly. “ You can go back on any train 
you wish. I’ll send another man on your run.” 

“ He can’t sleep with me,” snc^ted Andrews, 
glaring at his late opponent. 

But the latter had no wish for such an ener- 
getic bedfellow. He picked up his hand-valise 
284 


THE CHRISTMAS RUSH 


and went out of the door without another word. 
He did not even remain all night at the hotel, 
but when Number 3 pulled in he boarded it for 
the west, and that was his last appearance at 
Harry’s office; or any other, for that matter, for 
when the superintendent learned the facts, the 
irascible messenger was discharged from the 
service of the company. 

It seemed to Harry that winter never would 
come to an end, it was so long and tedious. But 
in March he began to note evidences of a change. 
Gradually the winds and storms decreased in 
bitterness and severity. Softer breezes sug- 
gested spring, and Nature gave unmistakable 
signs of throwing off the frozen incubus. Inter- 
mittent rains took the place of snow, and soon 
that welcome harbinger of spring, the robin, 
ventured north. The foul, grimy snow was 
loaded upon flat cars and hauled away, and the 
big railroad yards cleaned up for spring. 

Trains once more came and went on time,, 
and the long hours of tedious waiting for be- 
lated trains was a thing of the past. 


285 


CHAPTER XIX. 


A TRAIN HOLD - UP 

When Harry received his March salary, he 
found that his surplus was sufficient to pay the 
mortgage, with accumulated interest, that had 
hung like a dark cloud over the little home. 

He had taken forty dollars from his salary 
every month regularly, and placed it in the small 
home bank, with the avowed purpose to use it in 
paying the debt and nothing else. He knew that 
his mother worried continually over the matter, 
and was all the more anxious on her account to 
get the mortgage paid. 

Of course, everybody knew that Mr. Baker 
had placed a mortgage upon his home, and all 
were united in the opinion that the place would 
go for the debt. They knew his income and 
peculiarities, and none believed that he would 
ever pay the incumbrance. 

Great was Harry’s joy to find when he made 
286 


A TRAIN HOLD-UP 


his April deposit, that there was a little more 
than enough to pay the entire amount. 

Upon his inquiry, Mr. Ridgley, the banker, 
informed him that the mortgage had been de- 
posited with him and could be paid at any 
time. 

In a short time the release had been made out, 
the money paid, and Harry was in possession of 
the cancelled document. 

It is not necessary to say that he was happy. 
When he clutched the paper with shining eyes, 
Mr. Ridgley said: 

That shows what a young man can do by 
thrift and economy. You might have spent that 
money and never have known where it went. 
Little by little is what counts in this world. 
Save your money and keep down your wants, 
and you will come out all right. If more young 
fellows were like you, there would be more bank 
accounts.’’ 

“ I am going to keep on saving mine,” replied 
Harry, as he hurried away to tell his mother that 
the debt was paid. 

“Hurrah, mother! Nothing on top of our 
house now,” and he rushed in, flourishing the 
paper with dancing eyes. 

287 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


And so you have finally paid it ? That’s 
good,” and Mrs. Baker looked the relief she 
felt. 

What was on top of our house ? I didn’t see 
anything,” asked Jimmy, with wondering eyes. 

It was a bird,” volunteered Alice. “ I saw it 
there this morning. Let’s go out and see if it’s 
gone, Jimmy,” and both children dashed out of 
the house. 

“ Yes, sir, it’s gone. Harry scared it away. 
I wonder what hurt it was doing there,” said 
Alice, as they returned to the house after mak- 
ing the investigation. 

Harry, what hurt was the bird doing 
there?” 

“ It was a bird of prey, sweetheart,” and he 
kissed her with a laugh. 

“ Alice, you’ve got your dress dirty already 
this morning. You and Jimmy must stop mak- 
ing mud pies. Now mind me.” 

“ Make us an apple turnover and we will,” 
and Alice looked cunningly at Jimmy. 

‘‘Apples are too costly; we can’t afiford it.” 

“ I’ll buy a peck, and we’ll go on a spree to 
celebrate this,” and Harry vanished with a jolly 
laugh. 


288 


A TRAIN HOLD-UP 


What ails Harry, mother, he acts so 
funny ? inquired Alice. 

“ Oh, nothing. Run and play now, but don’t 
get into the mud. That dress must last you till 
Saturday,” and the children went reluctantly out 
into the yard and began to gravely discuss their 
big brother’s unusual actions. 

Harry returned to work with a new zest. Joy 
has a pleasant effect upon everybody, and he 
whistled and sang at his work to an unusual 
degree. 

“Celebrating the return of spring?” inquired 
Jack Dodd, stopping in front of the office with 
a couple of trunks. 

“ Yes, celebrating everything,” and Harry 
straightened his trucks around, to have them 
ready for use. 

“ I don’t blame you. This weather would 
make anybody whistle, after last winter,” and 
Jack trundled his baggage along to the baggage- 
room. 

“ What are you feeling so overjoyed about? ” 
asked Ben Brown, who was playing checkers 
with George Parker. 

“ Just paid off an old mortgage on the house. 


289 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


and it’s like getting rid of the fleas,” replied 
Harry, with an animated face. 

That’s where the company’s money goes, 
eh ? ” and Ben winked at Parker. 

“Yes; he has a snap here. Hold on; jump 
there. No use to look; you can’t get out of it,” 
and Parker took two men and a king on the re- 
turn move. 

“ You’re a pretty mean man. I’m going to 
quit and stroll out to hear the blackbirds sing,” 
said Ben, with a yawn. 

“ So you saved enough in the last year to pay 
off a mortgage, eh ? Good boy ! How much did 
you save, Parker?” and Brown turned to his 
colleague. 

“ I don’t know. I give it all to the old lady 
every month, except ten dollars. Guess she’s 
got a little laid away in her stocking.” 

“ I haven’t got any old lady, but I manage 
to put a few cents in the bank every month. 
Come on, Parker. Let’s take a walk and hear 
the bullfrogs sing,” and the pair strolled out in 
the balmy sunshine. 

The April days flew swiftly by, and then came 
May, with its bursting flowers and wealth of 
verdure. 


290 


A TRAIN HOLD-UP 


About this time, Harry was called into the 
city to meet Mr. Lambert by special appoint- 
ment. It was the former’s first introduction to 
his superintendent, and he was much gratified 
with the frank, fatherly manner in which he was 
treated. 

Their business, so far as Mr. Lambert dis- 
closed it, was simply a matter affecting the trans- 
fer, and was concluded in time for Harry to 
take the next train back home. 

Two weeks later occurred an event that had 
a distinct bearing upon Harry’s future career, 
and event that he never recalled in after-years 
without a shiver. 

His favorite uncle, his father’s brother, who 
had been ill for some time, took a sudden turn 
for the worse one evening, and sent for Harry. 

He was greatly attached to his uncle, and felt 
that it was his duty to go. So, sending word 
home where he had gone, and leaving George 
Parker in charge of the office temporarily, he 
sprang into the buggy with the boy who had 
come for him and drove away. 

His uncle was a farmer, and lived about three 
miles in the country. . It was after eight o’clock 


291 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


when they arrived, and Harry hurried at once 
to the bedside. 

His uncle had sunk into a sort of stupor, and 
Harry sat down to await developments and see 
if he would not arouse sufficiently to recognize 
him. Hour after hour went by, but there was 
no change. 

About midnight the sick man awoke from his 
stupor and recognized Harry, together with 
others around. But it was the last flickering 
spark, and a few moments later he was dead. 

About two o’clock Harry prepared to return 
home, as he wished to reach there in time to 
attend Number 3, the Chicago through passen- 
ger. 

While he was waiting for the boy to get the 
team, a neighbor, who had been there during 
the night, touched him upon the arm. 

Harry, Joe Masters is out here and wants 
to see you.” 

A few moments later he was shaking hands 
with the farmer, and saying : 

“ I am told you wish to see me, Mr. Masters.” 

“Yes, and, according to this boy of mine, it’s 
pretty important.” 

“Is that so? What is it, Albert?” and he 


292 


A TRAIN HOLD-UP 

looked down at a bashful-appearing lad of 
twelve. 

“ They’re going to rob the train to-night.” 

“Rob the train? What train?” gasped 
Harry. 

“ I don’t know,” said the boy, simply. 

“ Here, tell me what you do know, quickly,” 
and Harry’s eyes snapped with excitement, as he 
looked at his watch. 

“ Guess I’d better tell you,” said Mr. Masters; 
“ the boy is rather bashful and slow talking.” 

“ Yes, do,” responded Harry, anxiously. 

“ Why, he was out in the pasture about dusk 
after the cows, and while he was going through 
a piece of woods, he heard voices. He stopped 
and listened, and pretty soon some men came 
along. They stopped when they wa’n’t more’n 
ten feet from him, and he heard them tell about 
going to rob some train to-night. It seems 
they’ve been laying around the woods all day, 
waiting for it. After they’d talked a bit they 
went on by, and he come home half scart to 
death. In fact, he was scart so, he went to bed 
without saying anything about it, but he couldn’t 
sleep, it bothered him so, and finally he come 
and woke me up and told me about it. I didn’t 

293 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


know what to do to stop it, but while I was 
thinking the matter over, Gil Penroy knocked 
on the door to tell me that the old man was 
dead,’' and he nodded toward the death-chamber. 
“ While he was talking he mentioned that you 
was here. I happened to think that you was 
express agent in town and might be able to do 
something to stop it, so I come over and brought 
the boy along.” 

Did you hear them say anything about the 
spot they were going to stop the train ? ” asked 
Harry, anxiously, turning to the boy. 

“ They said something about ‘ Dead Man’s 
Hollow.’ ” 

“ Just the place for such a deed. The train 
they are going to hold up is Number 3 from 
Chicago, and it’s due along here in fifty-five 
minutes,” and the young express agent closed 
his watch with a snap, and looked at the farmer 
with set jaws. 

''What can we do?” asked the latter, help- 
lessly. 

"We can do something, or try. How far is 
it to Dead Man’s Hollow ? ” 

" ’Bout a mile.” 

"And how far are we from the track?” 

294 


A TRAIN HOLD-UP 


‘‘ Tout half a mile.” 

Fm going to Dead Man’s Hollow, if I have 
to go alone,” and Harry’s eyes snapped. 

‘‘ You mustn’t go alone. I’ll go with you,” 
said Mr. Masters, in alarm. 

‘‘ All right. Who else can we get quick? ” 

“ There’s the Wilkins’ right across the road, 
and the Belmonts and Fryers not more’n forty 
rod up the road.” 

“ That’s right on the way. We’ll take the 
buggy they’re hitching up to take me home 
with, rout out all the men we can, and try to 
get there in time to stop it. There’s a shotgun 
and some shells here in the house. I’ll get them 
for you. I have my revolver. It’s pretty tough 
to leave ajiead man and go to a train robbery, 
but we owe a duty to the living. Hurry over 
and arouse the Wilkins’.” 

It is astonishing the number of things that 
can be done in a short time with a quick, active 
mind directing affairs. 

In thirty minutes after Harry had heard the 
boy’s story, eight sturdy farmers, armed with 
guns, revolvers, and pitchforks, were rattling 
over the road toward the track. 

The train was due in ten minutes when they 

295 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


reached the crossing. Harry sprang out of the 
vehicle, exclaiming: 

‘‘ Let’s hurry up the track. We may reach 
the place in time to spoil their game. The train 
may be a little lat,e.” 

But when it is desirable that a train should be 
late, the perverse thing is nearly always slightly 
ahead of time. So it proved in the present in- 
stance. Number 3 came bowling along at a 
clipping gait, with a rumble and a roar that 
sounded unnaturally loud in the quiet, peaceful 
night. 

The public little dream of the nervous strain 
that grips the engineer and fireman of a fast 
passenger-train, as the flying mass of wood and 
iron dashes along through the still watches of 
the night. 

Yet the lives of scores of human beings de- 
pend entirely upon the vigilance and watchful- 
ness of those two men. Keen, sharp eyes, 
trained for years in the freight service, con- 
stantly watch the track ahead, on the lookout 
for possible obstructions, washouts, wrecks, 
burned bridges, displaced rails, other trains, 
danger-signals, etc., while the headlight steadily 


296 


A TRAIN HOLD-UP 


bores an advancing tunnel of white light through 
the darkness. 

All hail to the brave, hardy knights of the 
throttle 1 

The engineer and fireman that night were 
George Hastings and Ira Hutchins. They had 
just rounded the curve to Dead Man’s Hol- 
low ” when the former uttered an exclamation : 

‘‘ Something’s up ! ” 

Hutchins, who had just opened the fire-box 
door to put in more coal, closed it and peered 
ahead. 

He saw the familiar danger-signal, a red light 
swinging across the track, just as his chief shut 
off steam and turned on the air. The pufhng 
monster’s speed slackened as the brakes ground 
against the flying car-wheels, and in a short 
distance the train came to a standstill. The 
engineer smothered an oath, as he gritted out to 
his partner: 

It’s a hold-up.” 

A masked man appeared at either side of the 
engine, and stepped up into the cab. 

‘Hs she shut off all right?” the leader 
growled, holding a big revolver ready for busi- 
ness. 

297 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


“ Yes,” Hastings answered, shortly. 

'' Then come down here. I want you.” 

The engineer knew he was helpless, so he 
sprang to the ground, followed by the bandit. 

“Go on back there and cut off the express- 
car. Hurry, now ! ” and the words were ac- 
companied by an ominous click of the revolver. 

The express-car was at the head of the train, 
and when they reached it they were joined by 
two other masked men. The side door opened 
slightly, and the messenger’s head peered out in 
the darkness. 

A flash, a report, and a bullet whizzed past 
his head and buried itself in the car. He has- 
tily dodged back, and closed and fastened the 
door. 

Sleepy passengers, dozing in the smoker, 
roused up, and two or three of them put their 
heads out of the window, trying to locate the 
cause of the stop. A gun cracked, a bullet 
whistled past the windows, and a voice called 
out : 

“ Keep your heads in there, and you won’t 
get hurt ! ” Then the bandit fired two or three 

more shots. 

\ 

No need for further warning. Every person 
298 


A TRAIN HOLD-UP 


in the car huddled down into the seat, and, with 
beating heart, awaited the outcome. 

“ Uncouple that car. Quick ! The leader’s 
voice was imperative. 

Hastings did as he was bid, and stepped back. 

“ She’s cut off.” 

Come back to the engine ! ” came the short, 
sharp command. 

A moment later five masked men and the en- 
gineer and fireman stood in the cab. 

“ Go ahead till I tell you to stop ! ” and the 
engine and express-car moved slowly ahead. A 
half-mile had been covered when the leader 
said : 

“ Stop her ! ” and the engine came to rest. 

The leader motioned to one of the masked fig- 
ures. 

“ Take these men up the track a piece out of 
the way, and watch them.” His command was 
promptly obeyed. The engineer and fireman 
were marched out of harm’s way, and the re- 
maining four bandits surrounded the express- 
car. The leader pounded on the side door with 
the butt of his revolver. 

‘‘ Open this door, quick.” 

‘‘Never! And I’ll shoot the first man that 
299 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


shows his head,” came the defiant answer. It 
was Howard Gilmore’s voice. 

“Then we’ll open for you,” came the grim 
words. 

A stick of dynamite was placed upon the car- 
sill. The robbers stepped back out of the way, 
and a moment later a terrific explosion tore the 
door and sill to fragments. 

Soon as possible three of the robbers sprang 
into the car. 

“ Throw up your hands ! ” the leader called. 

Gilmore, from behind some packages, replied 
with a shot from his revolver. The robbers sent 
a fusillade of bullets in the direction of the 
plucky messenger, and he returned the fire rap- 
idly as possible, but from the uncertain light and 
the rapid shooting no one was hurt. 

Then there was a momentary lull, and the 
leader called again : 

“ Throw up your hands, or we’ll kill you.” 

Without replying, the messenger caught a 
quick aim at one of the robbers, and fired again. 
It was a fatal shot. The bullet struck the robber 
fairly in the head, and he dropped to the floor 
like a log. Then the leader caught a partial 
view of Gilmore’s body and returned the fire. 

300 


A TRAIN HOLD-UP 


He saw the messenger throw up his hands and 
go down behind his barricade. 

“ Quick ! See if he’s done for, and blow open 
the safe.” 

That express run was one of the few that 
carried a large through safe. It was used where 
a large amount of money was to be sent to one 
destination. 

The agent at the starting-point locked the 
money in the safe, and it was not opened until 
reaching its destination. The messenger on the 
train did not even know the combination. He 
simply had a way-bill for one locked safe. His 
duty was to guard it en route. The agent at 
the end of the run opened the safe and took 
charge of the money. 

The robbers evidently knew that the train car- 
ried such a safe, for, when Gilmore fell, the 
leader motioned his pals toward him, while his 
own eyes roved eagerly around the car. 

He soon spied the big through safe, and his 
eyes gleamed. Just then one of the robbers came 
back, and said : 

''He got the package all right” (meaning 
that the messenger was dead). 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


“ Blow open this safe quick ! We’re losing 
time/’ came the sharp words. 

A stick of dynamite was placed upon the safe, 
but before the fuse could be lighted, they heard 
the cry, Surrender ! ” at the door. 

Meanwhile, Harry and the farmers made all 
speed possible. But stumbling over railroad-ties 
in the night is not a very rapid means of travel, 
and they were yet some distance from ‘‘ Dead 
Man’s Hollow ” when the whistle of the ap- 
proaching train reached their ears. 

As they hurried on still faster, the rumble of 
the approaching train eased down and then 
ceased. The engine had come to a standstill. 

“ Hark ! I hear pistol-shots,” said Masters, 
pausing to listen. 

‘‘ So do I,” said Jud Fryer. “ I heard them 
just as plain as could be. There they go again,” 
as several ‘shots came distinctly through the still 
night air. Presently they heard the engine puff- 
ing again. It seemed to be moving toward 
them. 

Then the glare of the headlight lighted up the 
hills, showing that the engine was coming 
around a curve into view. 

The sound told Harry that the whole train 
302 


A TRAIN HOLD-UP 

was not moving, and he was greatly puzzled for 
a moment to account for the strange proceed- 
ing. Then it occurred to him that the robbers 
had cut off the express-car, and were taking it 
away from the train to rob it. 

“ Get back out of the light,” he whispered to 
his companions. “ Don’t let them see us if they 
pass.” His orders were obeyed, and everybody 
crouched low and silently in the semi-darkness. 
The engine, with the express-car, puffed slowly 
by, and they could dimly see several men in the 
cab and knew that some of them were robbers, 
but dared not shoot for fear of hitting the engi- 
neer or fireman. 

The engine stopped a short distance down the 
track, and presently Harry and the farmers 
could make out dark figures moving about the 
express-car. Then they hard a gruff voice say: 

Open this door, quick ! ” 

Harry could not hear the answer, but he knew 
it was Gilmore’s run, and presumed that he was 
in the car. Then it occurred to him in a flash 
that those messengers carried a large through 
safe. The robbers knew it, and it was the con- 
tents of that safe they were after. 

A moment later a sharp explosion broke upon 

303 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


the still air, and the car door was blown into a 
thousand fragments. 

Harry dimly saw two or three forms spring 
into the car, and heard a fusillade of shots. Then 
all was quiet. “ Come on, men ! Tm afraid 
they’ve killed the messenger. Let’s get there 
before they blow open the safe,” and they hurried 
up to the scene of the robbery. 

Harry had divided the men, and his squad was 
on the side of the wrecked door. The darkness 
favoring them, they reached the car without be- 
ing seen. 

Like wolves after their prey, the robbers were 
hot on the scent of money, and did not dream 
of an interruption. A masked man outside stood 
guard by the open door, or rather the hole in the 
side of the car. He was so intent upon the work 
of his confederates in the car that Harry and 
his party were upon him before he knew of 
their presence. 

‘‘ Surrender ! ” called Harry. 

The bandit turned with a curse, and dis- 
charged a revolver pointblank into their faces. 
Fortunately the darkness favored them, and no 
one was hit, and before he could shoot again. 


304 



‘“SURRENDER, OR WE’LL SHOOT ! ”’ 








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A TRAIN HOLD-UP 

the miscreant was knocked senseless by a mus- 
ket in the hands of sturdy Jud Fryer. 

While they were securing the rascal, his con- 
federates, hearing the commotion, appeared at 
the doon 

'' Surrender, or we’ll shoot ! ” called Harry. 

Taking in the situation at a glance, the rob- 
bers sprang across the car and leaped out of 
the opposite side door into the darkness. 

Harry heard calls to surrender, then shots, 
followed by the sound of men running. He 
quickly ran around the car. 

Did you get any of them ? ” 

“ No, but one of them nearly got me,” replied 
John Belmont. “ I got a bullet through my 
hat.” 

Thank Heaven, no one is hurt,” said Harry, 
with a feeling of intense relief. 

“ Hist ! Here come two men,” as two dark 
forms appeared coming along the track. 

‘‘ Halt!” 

Don’t shoot. We’re friends,” and a moment 
later Hastings and Hutchins appeared in their 
midst. 

Is that you, George and Ira ? ” asked 
Harry, peering into their faces. 

305 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 

“ Yes. The fellow that was guarding us heard 
the shooting and skipped. Is that you, Harry? 
What are you doing out here? 'said Hastings. 

‘‘ Haven’t time to tell you now. Let’s get 
into the car. I’m afraid Gilmore’s done for. I 
don’t hear anything in the car.” 

‘‘ I’ve got a lantern here, but I don’t suppose 
we ought to light it if any of those rascals are 
hanging around,” said Hastings. 

I don’t think they will bother us. It will 
begin to break day in a few minutes, and they 
know the game is up. They’re probably looking 
for a safe place to hide.” 

“ The car light is going yet, anyhow,” said 
the engineer, peering in cautiously. 

“ Let’s go around to the other side. We cap- 
tured one of the rascals, if the men haven’t let 
him get away,” said Harry, as they went around 
the end of the car. 

“ Have you got him yet, boys? ” 

Yes. He’s just beginning to show signs of 
coming to. That old musket of Jud’s nearly 
fixed him for keeps,” rq)lied Masters. 

Anything to tie him with ? ” asked Harry. 

“ I’ve got ropes and string in the tool-box on 
the engine,” said the engineer, starting after the 
306 


A TRAIN HOLD-UP 


desired articles. In five minutes the captured 
robber was securely tied hand and foot. 

‘‘ Now, let’s get into the car. I’m worried 
about Gilmore,” said Harry, anxiously, and 
after a little cautious manoeuvring, he stood in 
the car with the engineer and fireman. 

The first object that caught their attention 
was the body of a man. It lay upon its side, 
and the face was covered by a mask. 

“ Gilmore accounted for one of them,” said 
Hutchins, in a low voice. 

At that instant a low moan came to their ears. 

Hastings looked at Harry. 

“ Somebody’s hurt, and I’ll wager it’s Gil- 
more.” 

Harry nodded, and they went on through the 
car. 

Here he is, poor lad. I wonder how bad 
he is hurt,” and the engineer tenderly lifted 
up the form of his comrade. 

The messenger opened his eyes, and said in a 
weak voice: 

George, I’m shot.” 

''Look’s like it, old man. Where is it?” 
asked Hastings, with rough kindness. 

Gilmore put his hand on the upper part of his 

307 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


right breast near the shoulder. In here some- 
where. The pain and loss of blood caused me 
to faint.’’ 

“ Thank goodness you are alive,” cried 
Harry, fervently. 

“ Oh, I’m worth a dozen dead men,” replied 
the messenger, trying to smile, but it was a 
ghastly effort. 

“We must hurry and get him to a doctor 
soon as possible,” said the engineer, straighten- 
ing up. 

“Yes. Get coupled up soon as possible,” re- 
plied Harry. Then they both saw the stick of 
dynamite lying upon the through safe. 

“ Better take that thing out and bury it, Ira,” 
and Hastings nodded toward the deadly explo- 
sive. 

“ There’s a little pool of water right here by 
the track. I’ll just drop it into that,” replied 
Hutchins. 

“ All right, but handle it tenderly, and don’t 
throw it.” 

“ Don’t worry about me throwing it,” said 
Hutchins, picking up the infernal machine gin- 
gerly and tiptoeing out of the car. 

“ I’ll go ahead and get the engine ready; and 
308 


A TRAIN HOLD-UP 


Harry, you make Gilmore as comfortable as pos- 
sible,’' and Hastings hurriedly left the car. 

“ Hello, in there ! What are you doing out 
in the country, Harry?” and a lantern was set 
in the car, and Tom Purdy’s face appeared at 
the side door. 

Blest if I know, Tom. I’ve had a queer 
night of it. I had forgotten this was your 
train.” 

The conductor climbed into the car. “ I see 
Gilmore got one of them.” 

Yes, and they nearly got Howard. He is 
badly hurt. Come and see him.” 

Well, well, Howard. You’ve had a pretty 
tough time of it. Sorry I wasn’t here to help 
you. Where did they hit you ? ” and Purdy 
knelt down by the wounded man. 

The messenger pointed to the wound. “ It’s 
pretty high up, so I guess it isn’t dangerous, but 
I’m weak from loss of blood.” 

Before he had ceased speaking, the energetic 
conductor had cut the clothing away from the 
wound. “ It has stopped bleeding, if the jar 
doesn’t start it up again before we get to town. 
We’ll fix you as comfortable a bed as we can,” 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


and, with Harry’s help, he arranged the pack- 
ages into a fairly comfortable bed. 

“ There. Now we’ll get to town and a doctor 
soon as possible,” and he started out. “ Harry, 
what are you going to do with this fellow ? ” 
and he pointed down at the dead robber. 

Take him with us, of course. I wonder 
what he looks like,” and Harry stooped, and, 
turning the body over, removed the mask, while 
Tom held down his lantern. They recoiled in 
amazement, and the cry came from both: 

Jasper Hardy!” 

How is this ? I thought he was out in 
Montana,” and Purdy looked at Harry in per- 
plexity, and then down at the pallid face. 

“ I thought so, too. I don’t understand it. 
But it’s Jasper, sure as the world,” and Harry 
again scanned the bloodless features of his old 
schoolmate. 

“ Yes, it’s him all right. Maybe it was a 
fake, his being out to Montana. I think I can 
guess his career for the last year or two,” Purdy 
added, thoughtfully. ‘‘ He was too lazy to 
work, and drifted in with a gang of loafers and 
thieves, and winds up with a gang of train-rob- 


310 


A TRAIN HOLD-UP 


bers. Too bad, but it’s his own fault,” and he 
turned and went out of the car. 

Harry went to the door. “ Bring that fellow 
in here, and come in yourselves. We’ll be go- 
ing in a minute.” 

The captured robber, who had recovered con- 
sciousness and was blinking sullenly at his cap- 
tors, was lifted in, and the farmers scrambled in 
after him. In a few minutes Hastings backed 
up to the train, the couplings were made, and 
the train started on again. 

It was broad daylight when the belated train 
pulled into the station. The first thing was to 
wire the Chicago office, and in a few minutes 
the railway and express officials knew of the 
affair, and were on their way to the scene in a 
special car, accompanied by detectives and re- 
porters. 

The news of the hold-up and Jasper Hardy’s 
death flew like wild-fire, and in a short space of 
time half of the town was at the depot, asking 
all sorts of questions and trying to find out all 
about the attempted robbery. 

At the earliest possible moment, Harry took 
Jack Dodd into the car to view the body of their 
old schoolmate. He fully expected to see Jack’s 
3 ” 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


eyes stick out with amazement, but the latter 
disappointed him. 

Don’t surprise me a bit. I’ll have a fellow 
here in a few days who will tell you all about 
him and where he has been the past year. He 
has been on Jasper’s trail ever since you lost 
those packages.” 

It was Harry’s turn to be astonished. 

Who is it ? ” he asked, wonderingly. 

Oh, a tramp detective that I got acquainted 
with accidentally years ago. He knows all the 
tramps in the country. Tramps a good deal 
himself when he feels like it. He has tramped 
with Jasper here. I suspected Hardy all the 
time of robbing you, although I confess I was 
staggered for a minute, when I heard he had 
gone West. But I soon found out from this 
friend of mine that it was a fake yarn; that he 
hadn’t gone to Montana; was just tramping and 
stealing.” 

“ Why didn’t you tell me this before ? ” asked 
Harry, with a slightly offended air. 

“ I started to once or twice, but I was afraid 
of letting too many know it. I wanted to catch 
him right in the act. Don’t feel offended, Harry, 


312 


A TRAIN HOLD-UP 


it was all for your benefit,” returned Dodd, 
kindly. 

I forgive you, Jack, and thank you. By the 
way, I wonder if Bill Ranting has been with 
him in these scrapes ? ” 

“ No. He and Ranting had a split-up over a 
year ago, and Bill went to Mexico. I don’t 
know where he is now. He and Jasper never 
could get along. Too much alike, I guess.” 

Among others that viewed the body were 
Jim Travers and Tent Shafer. And the boys 
talked in a low, awed tone with Harry, as they 
recalled the waywardness of their old school- 
mate. 

The wounded messenger was at once taken to 
the depot hotel and a physician summoned, who 
found that his wound was not dangerous, a fact 
which relieved Harry greatly. 

In a few hours the special arrived with both 
Mr. Lambert and Mr. Cummings on board. 
Then Harry found out for the first time what he 
had saved the express company by his prompt 
action. The through safe held one hundred 
thousand dollars in cash, consigned to Western 
banks. 

Needless to say, he was a hero in everybody’s 

313 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


eyes. The farmers who had so bravely assisted 
him, to a man, gave him the credit of foiling the 
robbers. When Mr. Lambert heard the particu- 
lars, he shook Harry warmly by the hand and 
thanked him personally in behalf of the express 
company. 

“You did a good night’s work, my boy, and 
we will try and not forget it.” 

“ I only did what I considered to be my duty,” 
Harry replied, simply. 

“ Yes, and that is why I thank you. Many 
young men would not have considered it their 
duty to take so much interest in their employer’s 
affairs, particularly where their lives were in 
danger. You have the* right stuff in you.” 

“ Howard Gilmore deserves as much or more 
credit than I do.” 

“ Yes, I am proud of Gilmore, too. We will 
take care of him.” 

Mr. Cummings was no less pleased. Harry 
had been a sort of protege of his from the first, 
and he was glad to find that the young man had 
not been found wanting when tried. 

Reporters wandered about, asking all sorts of 
questions of everybody, and then sent column 
after column of lurid literature to the city papers, 
314 


A TRAIN HOLD-UP 


each one coloring the account to suit himself, and 
none of them coming very near to the actual 
facts. 

The remains of Jasper Hardy were taken 
charge of by his mortified, heart-broken parents. 
Many came to attend his funeral out of curiosity, 
but none from regard. Everybody felt that he 
had neglected his opportunities and paid the 
penalty. He was buried in the little cemetery at 
Bluffton, and lies there to this day. 

It was many weeks before the brave messen- 
ger, Howard Gilmore, was able to take his run 
again ; but he finally recovered and became 
strong and rugged as ever. 

The captured robber was given the limit of 
the law for a term in the penitentiary. He re- 
fused to expose the rest of his pals, or say any- 
thing about the affair, and as they were never 
captured, nothing more was ever known of it. 


315 


CHAPTER XX. 

A PROMOTION 

Howard Gilmore’s run was taken tempora- 
rily by a young man named Neal Higgins, and 
after the usual nine days’ talk and gossip, affairs 
settled down to the quiet old routine. 

Needless to say, Mrs. Baker was a proud, 
happy mother. Her boy was a hero. Every- 
body said so, and his praises were on every 
tongue. The villagers dropped in every day to 
discuss the matter and talk over Harry’s exploit, 
and Mrs. Baker was a delighted listener. 

But there was another home in that little town 
where joy did not enter, where gloom and bit- 
terness held sway, the home of Jasper Hardy. 
Mr. and Mrs. Hardy held themselves aloof from 
others for very shame, and went their way, 
downhearted and sad, a great contrast to the 
happiness and gratitude that reigned in the Baker 
family. 

Happy are they who find joy in their children, 
316 


A PROMOTION 

A couple of weeks after the attempted train 
robbery, Harry received a letter bearing the 
stamp of the president of the express company. 
Wonderingly he opened it, and the first thing 
that caught his eye was a check for three thou- 
sand dollars. He could hardly believe his 
senses. When he could get his breath, he read 
the accompanying letter. It was in the presi- 
dent’s own handwriting, and thanked him cor- 
dially for his prompt, brave action. 

Two thousand dollars of the money was for 
Harry, and the remaining thousand was to be 
divided among the farmers who had so kindly 
assisted him in foiling the robbers that mem- 
orable night. 

The president said that the directors of the 
company had authorized him to send this slight 
testimonial in recognition of a brave act. He 
further said that at any time he could be of 
service to Mr. Baker, to let him know. 

Harry felt like shouting for joy. Not so much 
for the money, as to hear from the head of 
the company that his action had been fully appre- 
ciated. He found out afterwards that Howard 
Gilmore also received a check for two thousand 
dollars, together with his expenses while recov- 

317 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


ering from the wound. In addition, he was kept 
under full pay during that time. 

George Parker, Ben Brown, and Sam Andrews 
were in the office when Harry came in from the 
mail. 

“ Read that, George, and see if you don’t call 
it pretty tough luck.” 

What are you having bad luck about now? ” 
asked Ben, as Parker opened the letter. The 
train robbery affair had passed out of their 
minds. Messengers get so used to handling 
money and living in an atmosphere of money, 
that a robbery or the loss of a package excites 
little comment among them. The fact of han- 
dling so much of it does not make them less 
careful or honest; just seems to dull the senses 
when thinking of money. 

What is it all about? ” asked Sam Andrews, 
who saw by the expression on George Parker’s 
face that something unusual had stirred him. 

“ Oh, nothing. Just a little check for three 
thousand dollars, and a personal letter of thanks 
from the president of the company, for scaring 
away those train robbers,” and Parker read the 
letter. 

‘‘ Well, well ! Good for Harry. Allow me,” 
318 


A PROMOTION 


and big Sam drew himself to his full height, and 
made a profound military salute to the happy 
young agent. 

Ben Brown shook him heartily by the hand. 
‘‘ Glad of it, Harry. It isn’t any more than you 
deserve, either.” Then he turned to Parker. 

“ Why don’t you slobber over him a little 
and be sociable? You didn’t have to donate any 
of the money.” 

“I’m going to, just as soon as I can get my 
wits together. It’s his luck that beats me. I told 
him, the first time I ever saw him, that he would 
be president of the company inside of ten years. 
But I see now that it won’t be more than five, 
with his luck.” 

“ No luck about it. Just sand and hustle,” put 
in Sam Andrews. 

“ Oh, fiddlesticks. The hustle part is all right, 
and a good thing, but if it hadn’t been for his 
luck, he wouldn’t have been out in the country at 
just the right time,” persisted Parker. 

“ There is a tide in the affairs of men, 

Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune,” 

quoted Ben. 

“ And you needn’t worry but what he’ll have 

319 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


plenty of ‘ tides ’ and ‘ floods/ He is the luckiest 
boy that ever checked a way-bill/' 

Don't forget to give the old farmers their 
share/' winked Ben Brown. 

“No. I won't forget," laughed Harry, as he 
locked the precious papers in the safe. 

The following day. Jack Dodd came into the 
office with a man whom he introduced as Mr. 
Hayworth. 

“ This is the party that I told you had ‘ culti- 
vated ' Jasper Hardy's acquaintance." 

“ Ah, so this is the gentleman. Glad to meet 
you, Mr. Hayworth. Have a chair." 

When they were seated, Harry said: 

“ I understand from Jack that it was Jasper 
who stole those packages from my trucks some 
time ago." 

Mr. Hayworth nodded. 

“ Yes. He told me all about it once when I 
was tramping with him. He said he was going 
to drive you out of here; that you had got this 
job away from him, and he was going to get even 
with you." 

“ Jack knows how much truth there was in 
that statement. He never had a show for the 
place." 


320 


A PROMOTION 

I soon sized him up. He stole those pack- 
ages from you, supposing in his ignorance that 
the company would think you took, them, and 
discharge you. He had quite a gift of gab, but 
very few brains.’’ 

‘‘ Was he concerned in that affair when they 
snatched my express sack with the five-thousand- 
dollar package ? ” asked Harry. 

Yes, although he didn’t do it personally. He 
made one of his pals believe it was easy to get 
money that way, and put him up to snatching 
your sack. They didn’t know how much was in 
it; just took chances on the amount.” 

“ Another thing I don’t understand is, why 
hasn’t he been recognized around the yards ? He 
was born and raised here, and everybody knows 
him.” 

Mr. Hayworth smiled. 

‘‘ That was easy. He had all sorts of disguises. 
He may have been right at your own door for a 
handout. Probably you saw him repeatedly with 
other tramps, and didn’t know him. A disguise 
changes a man wonderfully. I know, for I have 
occasion to use them frequently,” and he laughed 
quietly. 

I suppose so. Then he was supposed to be 
321 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


out in Montana, too, so a person wouldn’t be 
looking for him.” 

He never was in Montana. He just had that 
report circulated to give himself a freer rein to 
tramp and steal around here. I figured on get- 
ting him red-handed this season, but some genu- 
ine crooks got hold of him and got him into that 
train robbery deal. He was just about foolish 
enough for those fellows to use. You notice 
they had him in ahead where the shooting was 
likely to be.” 

Bright youth, wasn’t he?” remarked Jack 
Dodd, as he walked to the window. 

“ Well, Mr. Baker, I am glad to have met you 
and set you right upon these points,” and the 
tramp detective arose and held out his hand. 

“ And I am very glad to find them out, thank 
you. It would always have been a mystery to 
me,” returned Harry, warmly. 

“ I feel sorry for his father and mother, but I 
guess it is all for the best that he is dead ; for he 
would always have been a criminal. Good-by, 
Mr. Baker,” and the tramp detective was gone. 

Harry mused long and deeply upon the tragic 
end of his old schoolmate. He had always con- 
sidered Jasper more weak and lazy than vicious, 
322 


A PROMOTION 


although Jack Dodd claimed that he was natu- 
rally bad. Harry, however, firmly believed that 
early evil associations had something to do with 
his badness, and he felt thankful that he himself 
had kept out of such company. 

During the summer Harry received another 
surprise. 

Mr. Cummings was out one day to check up 
the office as usual. He found everything in first- 
class shape, and when he had completed his task, 
he said suddenly to the young agent : 

“ How would you like to be Mr. Lambert’s 
private secretary ? ” 

Me ? The idea ! Why, I never dreamed 
of such a thing,” said Harry, in astonishment. 

Do you remember what I told you when we 
put the division here? The men up-stairs have 
their eyes on everybody. Lambert has taken a 
fancy to you. His secretary has been appointed 
superintendent of a Western division, and he 
must get another. He has had his eye on you 
for some time. He told me to talk with you on 
this trip. Better take it. While your salary 
will not be much more than it is now, you will 
be in touch with the ruling power, and stand a 
better show for further promotion.” 

323 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


Of course I’ll take it, and glad of the chance, 
if I can do the work to suit him,” returned Harry^ 
heartily. 

‘‘ Oh, you will soon get used to the work. 
That needn’t worry you.” 

“ I forgot. I must talk with mother before I 
know for sure,” said Harry, suddenly. 

“ That’s right. Always think of your mother,” 
smiled Mr. Cummings, “ but I guess she will 
hardly object if it is going to benefit you.” 

At the supper-table that evening, Harry as- 
tonished his mother by saying: 

“ Do you want to move away from here, 
motjier?” 

Move away from here ? Where to ? ” said 
Mrs. Baker, with a puzzled look. 

“To Chicago. Mr. Lambert wants me for his 
private secretary.” 

“ Harry Baker ! It can’t be possible ! ” and 
her eyes shone with motherly pride and grati- 
fication. 

“ That is on the slate now. Think you can . - 
stand it in Chicago?” 

“ Of course. I can stand it anywhere, if it is 
for your good,” and a proud, happy look came 
into her eyes. 


324 


A PROMOTION 


‘‘ We’ll take these children into the city and 
lose them,” and he looked around upon the four 
eager, inquiring faces. 

“ You can’t lose me. I’ll stick tight to 
mother,” and Alice looked appealingly at Mrs. 
Baker. 

“ I ain’t afraid. I’ll go to running messenger 
in a little while,” said Phil, with an air of im- 
portance. 

“ I’m going to teach school just as soon as I 
am old enough,” announced Mary. 

“ I don’t know what I’ll do yet. I’d start a 
drug store if I only knew the price of medicine,” 
said Jimmy, with a thoughtful air. 

‘‘ Well, if you all think you can stand it in the 
city, I will accept Mr. Lambert’s offer,” said 
Harry. 

How did he happen to pick you, I wonder? ” 
said Mrs. Baker, with a fond, proud look at her 
tall son. 

I don’t know. I’m sure. Took a fancy to me, 
I suppose,” replied Harry, as he arose from the 
table. 

‘‘When are we going?” asked Phil. 

“ Don’t know. Tell you later,” and he was 
away to the office. 

325 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


Shortly afterward, Harry went to the city, and 
had an interview with his superintendent. There 
everything was arranged, another man appointed 
to take his agency, and he returned home to pre- 
pare for his departure. 

He had said nothing to the messengers about 
the proposed change, but now he told them, wait- 
ing until George Parker was in the office. 

But for once Parker refused to be surprised. 
He simply shook his head. “ You know what 
I told you over a year ago. And it’s turkeys to 
tom-cats that you get there.” 

The news of Harry’s promotion was all over 
the yards in a short time, and his friends 
flocked in the office to offer their congratulations. 

Jack Dodd was one of the first. 

‘‘ What is this I hear, Harry ? Are you going 
to leave us ? ” 

It looks that way. Jack.” 

He is going in where he can give the super- 
intendent pointers on our weak spots. He will 
probably have us all fired in a month,”^ said 
Parker, gravely. ' 

But what are we going to do here without 
you?” said Jack, with a forlorn look. 

‘‘Oh, you fellows will probably forget all 
326 


A PROMOTION 


about me in a little while/’ replied Harry, with a 
laugh. 

“ I’m afraid not,” returned Jack, shaking his 
head, “ but I’m glad to see you going higher, 
anyhow.” 

Harry did not forget his old friend, but in 
after-years, through his influence with the rail- 
way company, secured for the honest, faithful 
fellow a much better position. 

Tom Purdy, on his first run out, dropped into 
the office. 

I hear you are going to leave the boys, 
Harry.” 

“ Yes. I am going to try the city, and see 
what I am good for. I’ll see you in there occa- 
sionally.” 

Sure thing. I’ll drop around and see how 
you come on,” returned Purdy, as he went out. 

Larry McCue, the section boss, Dugan, Hor- 
ton, Briggs, and the rest of the boys, dropped in 
for a hand-shake and a hearty wish for his pros- 
perity. His old schoolmates, Jim Travers, Tent 
Shafer, and the rest of them, came to bid him 
good-by also, showing that he held a warm place 
in their hearts. 

Harry really regretted to leave so many kind 

327 


THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT 


friends, but “ time and tide wait for no man,” 
and the best of friends must part. 

George Parker’s prophecy proved partially 
true at least, for to-day Harry Baker is superin- 
tendent of an express division. Whether he ever 
reaches the top of the ladder, we cannot say. 

Phil is agent in one of the large cities, and 
Jimmy is running messenger. Mary and Alice 
are both happily married, as are Harry and Phil. 
But Jimmy is an old “ bach,” and declares his in- 
tention of remaining so. Mrs. Baker is a silver- 
haired, sweet-faced old lady, and still adored by 
her children — and grandchildren. 

Tom Purdy is assistant superintendent of a 
railway division, and is just as active and ener- 
getic as in the days when he made life a burden 
for “ bad men ” and tramps. 

He and Harry Baker meet frequently, and live 
over the old days, either in Tom’s private car, 
or Harry’s private office. 

THE END. 


328 







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